Pocono News Section

Shooting Victim Goes Face to Face With Suspect in Court

Shooting Victim Goes Face to Face With Suspect in Court - Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at 6:05PM EST

Reported by: Eric Deabill
Tuesday, Oct 20, 2009 @ 06:05pm EDT
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY -- An attempted murder suspect will go to trial. Marvin McCloe was back before a judge Tuesday. That's where he came face-to-face with the man police say he tried to kill.

Police say McCloe shot Nes Rafa twice back in July. He then went on the run for three months before turning himself in. Now he knows he'll face trial.

Nes Rafa is now living day by day. He was shot twice in July and now knows the man who police say pulled the trigger is going to trial. ÒI'm just glad, finally, that its one chapter in this book that's closed until the next time," he said.

Police say Marvin McCloe was the gunman. They say he shot Rafa in the back and leg with a revolver in the 1200 block of Townhouse Boulevard.

Rafa spent four days in the hospital. Both bullets are still in his body. ÒI don't have time for the rif-raf, you know what I mean? I come to work. Leave. I don't deal with trash and filth like that," said Rafa.

The suspect's family and girlfriend were in court Tuesday. They say McCloe is not guilty. ÒHe's not that type of person. He doesn't....no...He's not supposed to be sitting in there," said Brittany Merrifield.

McCloe's family says he was provoked by Rafa the night of the shooting. Faith Brantley, McCloeÕs grandmother, said, ÒHe's been provoking Marvin for the last two years, this guy here, my little niece and all of them."

Rafa claims he hardly knew McCloe at the time of the shooting. McCloe is still behind bars, but Rafa is not concerned for his safety. ÒI got a life to live. He's not going to have me going home and hiding under a bed for no reason," he said.

McCloe is facing charges of attempted murder and aggravated assault. He remains locked-up on $75,000 bail.