FAYETTEVILLE - The father of one of three young men killed together testified Monday in Fayette Circuit Court that he found evidence in the shootings a day after they happened, after police had searched the scene.

Carl Cox Jr., Dustin T. Hughes and Christopher L. Legg died after they suffered numerous bullet wounds fired from a semi-automatic AK-47 last Memorial Day weekend. Gary Martin Sr. is on trial for killing them.

Cox's father, Carl Cox Sr., said he returned to Stringtown Road, an unincorporated area near Ansted, to look around the day after his son and the others were shot to death.

As he looked around, Cox said, he noticed some leaves had been disturbed. He moved the leaves back and found a gun's ammunition clip, green shooting glasses and a green bandana. He also said he found five cigarette butts and an empty Bud Light can.

Cox said he found those items in a sinkhole behind a trashcan, within 10 feet of where Dustin Hughes' four-wheeler was found.

Over the objections of defense lawyers, Cox said he believed that Gary Martin Jr., not his father, waited and then fired the first shots at the three victims. The younger Martin has not been charged in the deaths.

Even though many officers were on the scene after the killings, Cox said they failed to find the evidence. He also said he later complained to Fayette County Sheriff Bill Laird about the investigation.

After he found the items, Cox said he asked his daughter to call police and asked members of Legg's family to be witnesses to what he found.

FAYETTEVILLE - The father of one of three young men killed together testified Monday in Fayette Circuit Court that he found evidence in the shootings a day after they happened, after police had searched the scene.

Carl Cox Jr., Dustin T. Hughes and Christopher L. Legg died after they suffered numerous bullet wounds fired from a semi-automatic AK-47 last Memorial Day weekend. Gary Martin Sr. is on trial for killing them.

Cox's father, Carl Cox Sr., said he returned to Stringtown Road, an unincorporated area near Ansted, to look around the day after his son and the others were shot to death.

As he looked around, Cox said, he noticed some leaves had been disturbed. He moved the leaves back and found a gun's ammunition clip, green shooting glasses and a green bandana. He also said he found five cigarette butts and an empty Bud Light can.

Cox said he found those items in a sinkhole behind a trashcan, within 10 feet of where Dustin Hughes' four-wheeler was found.

Over the objections of defense lawyers, Cox said he believed that Gary Martin Jr., not his father, waited and then fired the first shots at the three victims. The younger Martin has not been charged in the deaths.

Even though many officers were on the scene after the killings, Cox said they failed to find the evidence. He also said he later complained to Fayette County Sheriff Bill Laird about the investigation.

After he found the items, Cox said he asked his daughter to call police and asked members of Legg's family to be witnesses to what he found.

Police later got a search warrant and took the items Cox found into custody.

Detective Sgt. Jim Sizemore of the Fayette County Sheriff's Department also testified that when he was dispatched to the crime scene he saw "chaos when I first arrived."

Police at the scene had taped off the area where the three bodies lay, and family members were trying to get through the taped-off area.

But Sizemore said no evidence was disturbed, and he and others began to itemize the evidence.

Carl Cox Jr. had a Glock 30 semi-automatic pistol in a holster on his belt, but Sizemore said he believes Cox never fired his weapon.

"Beyond any doubt," Sizemore testified, "Cox did not have his gun in his hand when he was killed."

The trial continues today at 9 a.m. in Fayette Circuit Court.

To contact staff writer Susan Williams, use e-mail or call 348-5112.