As murder trial begins, defense says Eugene man shot ‘best friend’ in self defense

An enduring friendship between two men ended with one fatally shooting the other in Eugene in 2025. But in opening arguments of a murder trial that began Wednesday, July 8, jurors heard different versions of the events leading to the death of 35-year-old Justin Garrett Huser.

The shooter, Kenneth John Alvord, 37, is standing trial in Lane County Circuit Court on charges of second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter and unlawful use of a weapon in the March 8, 2025, shooting.

Defense attorneys, according to court documents and an opening statement, will describe what they say is a shooting in self-defense.

Prosecutors and Alvord’s defense team agreed the shooting took place in Alvord’s home, and that Alvord was still connected on a FaceTime video call with others even as shots were fired.

The shooting took place in the 3100 block of West 18th Avenue, according to Eugene police.

Deputy District Attorney Zori Cook told jurors Alvord fired 17 times at his “best friend.”

Though not all of the bullets struck Alvord, many did, according to Cook.

As Huser “lay dying … the bullets just kept coming. Over and over and over and over,” Cook said.

About the shooting, “I’m not going to be able to tell you why,” Cook said.

The two men had a “good relationship,” though when both men drank alcohol they “were different people,” Cook said. 

She described Huser as “distancing” himself from Alvord in the weeks leading up to the shooting.

Huser had children and a long-term partner, Cook said. 

“He had things he wanted to accomplish in his life,” she added.

The “mutual friends” on the other end of the FaceTime call heard Huser being belligerent and rude, Cook said.

“He was talking crap to the women [on the FaceTime call] … ‘Why are you even talking to these hos? I came over. I’m here,’” Cook said, describing the conversation.

Alvord “eventually” told Huser to “knock it off,” Cook said, and “everyone was exchanging words.”

The phone “fell backwards,” so those on the line could not see what happened, but Cook said Alvord kept a loaded firearm in a coffee table drawer in his living room.

Cook also said jurors will hear evidence that among Huser’s last words, he said: “Are you really going to do me like that, bro?”

Willow Hillman, a defense attorney for Alvord, also described the two men as best friends, having known each other since high school.

Hillman told jurors evidence will show Huser “had already been drinking” before he rode a bicycle — Cook said it was an e-bike — to visit Alvord sometime after 10 p.m. on the night of the shooting.

There were “signs he was already pretty intoxicated when he arrived there,” Hillman said.

Hillman told jurors they will hear evidence that Huser, while being belligerent toward the people on the other end of the FaceTime call, “threatened to kill” a man on the other end of the call, as well as “his whole family.” Hillman said Huser had never met the person.

Alvord asked Huser to leave, Hillman said. In response, “He said, I’m not leaving. F— you, man, I’m not leaving,” Hillman said, asking the jurors to “excuse my language.”

Hillman said jurors will hear evidence Huser knew the location of the semi-automatic handgun, and also that Huser’s blood-alcohol content was 0.36%. In Oregon, the legal limit to drive for adults is 0.08%.

As the dispute “escalated,” Huser went after a retreating Alvord, who at this point held the handgun behind his back in his left hand, Hillman said.

Alvord is “trying to dodge these punches that are coming in his direction,” Hillman said. “By the time he gets to the kitchen, he’s completely cornered.”

Hillman told the jurors that the number of bullets fired from the semi-automatic weapon “can come out in four to five seconds.”

Hillman and Cook gave differing accounts of how Alvord spoke about the shooting to those still on the FaceTime call.

“Alvord said, ‘Oh my God, oh my God, I just shot him,’” according to Hillman. She added that when told to call 911, he hung up and did so.

Cook described the end of the FaceTime call differently.

“After he emptied the magazine, the defendant got back on that call and said, ‘I killed Huser,’” Cook said.

A grand jury indicted Alvord on the second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter charges nearly seven months after the fatal shooting. Alvord had initially been charged March 10, 2025, by prosecutors only with unlawful use of a weapon.

The trial is expected to continue this week before Lane County Circuit Court Judge Curtis Conover.