ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – On Tuesday, a jury trial continued for Jacob Cronick, who is being charged with non-fatally shooting his former father-in-law, Eric Parrotta, last January.
As previously reported, Parrotta was one of several individuals at Cronick’s home on January 21, 2024, to collect Cronick’s ex-wife’s property. Cronick and Parrotta got into a verbal argument, during which Cronick told him to leave.
Security camera footage and cell phone videos have been shown during the trial. They show Parrotta knocking Cronick’s phone out of his hands, followed by Cronick pinning Parrotta against the hood of a vehicle. The others jumped into the fight. After they separated, Cronick can be seen shooting Parrotta in the abdomen, which resulted in a three-day hospitalization.
Cronick faces one charge of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder and a felony firearm charge.
The trial began on Monday with opening statements by the prosecution and defense and the questioning of one witness. On Tuesday, the first witness and three others took the stand for questioning. Among them were Cronick’s ex-wife and her uncle.
Much of the questioning involved the physical struggle that occurred just before the shooting. Witnesses were asked about what they recalled happening during each moment and what was said during the fight, and they were shown the videos of the incident during the questioning.
Neither Cronick nor Parrotta has taken the stand at this point in the trial. Proceedings continue on Wednesday, and WZMQ 19 will continue to follow the trial as it develops.
