Aristh Rodriguez-Linares takes the stand in state’s case against him Monday

The Lexington man is charged with first-degree murder, a Class 1A felony; use of a firearm to commit a felony, a Class 1C felony; and unlawful/intentional discharge of a firearm, a Class 1D felony.

With the state resting its case Friday and Dawson County District Judge Chawnta M. Durham denying a motion to dismiss, defense attorney David Tarrell immediately called Rodriguez-Linares to the stand Monday morning.

In his questioning of Rodriguez-Linares, Tarrell often asked about what he characterized as Carballo’s violent past and their contentious relationship.

Fearing that the Cuban government was following him, Rodriguez-Linares fled to New Jersey then Florida, he said in testimony. There he bought a gun “for protection.”

Tarrell asked, “Did you buy the gun to harm someone?” Rodriguez-Linares answered, “No. Never.” Tarrell further asked if Rodriguez-Linares had a criminal record, to which Rodriguez-Linares said, “No.”

Rodriguez-Linares soon brought his family to Lexington to work for Tyson, where he told jurors he met Carballo, later becoming friends. Rodriguez-Linares later began distancing himself from Carballo after Carballo continued to threaten him.

It was revealed on three separate occasions that Rodriguez-Linares recalled where Carballo had threatened him, one time at a farm where Carballo pointed a rifle at him while they were there slaughtering pigs for New Years, a second time where Carballo claimed that he kidnapped Rodriguez-Linares’ mom and stepdad while Rodriguez-Linares was traveling back to Lexington with his wife and son, and a third time when Carballo came to his home at 75 Cypress Lane with another man.

Rodriguez-Linares said that after the third incident, he tried to keep his distance from Carballo. “Did Mykal respect that distance?” Tarrell asked. “No, he did not listen to me,” Rodriguez-Linares answered.

On the night of the shooting, Rodriguez-Linares said that Carballo started texting him that he was coming over to his house to sell him something, but he didn’t know what. Rodriguez-Linares stated that Carballo showed up irritated that he hadn’t responded to him.

Rodriguez-Linares testified that he told his wife to stay in their bedroom before he picked up his gun and went outside to see what Carballo wanted. Outside, Carballo asked Rodriguez-Linares why he wasn’t answering him and asked him to help him out, saying, “Man, throw me a life line. I have tennis shoes and a watch to sell.” Rodriguez-Linares told him he didn’t have money.

Rodriguez-Linares said that upset Carballo then Carballo hit the hood of his car twice with his hands. After that, Rodriguez-Linares said he stepped back and took out his gun. “I had it down in my hand. I told him again to leave my house.” Rodriguez-Linares added that Carballo was acting like he was going to come at him.

Upon further questioning, Rodriguez-Linares testified that Carballo got in his Monte Carlo and as Rodriguez-Linares was walking away, Carballo appeared to put the car in gear. Rodriguez-Linares testified that Carballo then drove forward and hit him with the passenger side of the car.

Tarrell asked Rodriguez-Linares what the Monte Carlo was doing after he was on the ground. “Slowly coming at my legs,” he said. Tarrell questioned was Rodriguez-Linares mind clear or in a panic. “Panicked,” Rodriguez-Linares said.

Rodriguez-Linares said that’s when he began shooting. Upon the last shot, Rodriguez-Linares said that the car stopped moving. He testified that he got up and went inside where he yelled out to his wife to call the cops.

Tarrell questioned Rodriguez-Linares about not telling the police about his injuries, of which he stated that he didn’t speak English. It was revealed that over a month later, he was seen for his injuries while in jail. Tarrell asked him why it look so long. “It took me a long time to relay to the officers and doctor that I was hurt,” he said.

Tarrell asked Rodriguez-Linares if he went outside wanting to kill Carballo. “No. I went out there to get him to leave my house.”

“Why did you shoot Mykal?” Tarrell’s final question to Rodriguez-Linares.

“I was scared for my life,” Rodriguez-Linares said.

In the state’s cross of Rodriguez-Linares, State Assistant Attorney General Sandra Allen, questioned Rodriguez-Linares on why he continued to communicate with Carballo if he was continually threatening him. “I was scared of him,” Rodriguez said.

Allen also brought into question why Rodriguez-Linares called the police the night Carballo showed up to his house with another man on Jan. 2, 2025, but didn’t call the police the night of the shooting. “I didn’t have time,” Rodriguez-Linares said. Allen revealed that a message from Carballo read, “I’ve been here for half an hour,” asking why that wasn’t enough time to call the police.

Rodriguez-Linares was questioned by Allen on the events that occurred once Rodriguez-Linares went outside to confront Carballo. Rodriguez-Linares testified that Carballo got into his vehicle, put his seatbelt on and plugged his phone in.

Allen then questioned what happened once Rodriguez-Linares started to walk back across the front of the vehicle. “How do you describe his acceleration?” she asked. “He just sped up and hit me with the car,” Rodriguez-Linares answered.

Allen brought into question that Rodriguez-Linares testified to saying that he did not tell the officers he was hurt because he didn’t speak English. “But officer Perdomo was there. And he speaks Spanish,” Allen said. “Yes,” Rodriguez-Linares said.

Rodriguez-Linares was questioned about his actions during the shooting after Allen asked, “He hits you then you turn and point your gun?” Rodriguez-Linares said, “No, I just shot.” Allen questioned him if he got up from the ground once he started shooting, of which Rodriguez-Linares said he shot from sitting on the ground.

The court recessed after no further questions from the state, and the trial was set to resume at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11.