The man charged in the 2007 shooting of a 3-year-old boy in the Mirror Lake subdivision took the stand Wednesday in his own defense.

Colby Davidson, 20, is facing charges of murder and aggravated assault for allegedly firing nine shots with an automatic handgun into a neighbor’s home on Sycamore Lane in Villa Rica during a dispute between two families on April 25, 2007. Judah Tucker was killed.

From the witness stand in Douglas County Superior Court, Davidson told District Attorney David McDade he intentionally fired the weapon, claiming, “I meant to defend my life.”

McDade said Davidson’s testimony differed from statements the defendant made to investigators in April 2007, when Davidson reportedly claimed he blacked out and did not realize he was shooting the firearm.

According to Davidson’s testimony, he was afraid during a confrontation in the Tuckers’ front yard that involved his mother and sister and the parents of Judah Tucker. Davidson said Melvin Tucker, the victim’s father, allegedly yelled, “You’re dead. I’m going to kill you” during the altercation.

Davidson also claimed the mother, Veronica Tucker, was yelling, “You’re dead.”

Based on the testimonies of both parents, one of the Tucker children claimed Davidson had fired a gun in their presence at a school bus stop earlier in the afternoon of April 25, 2007.

McDade pointed out that several of the state’s witnesses, including Sycamore Lane resident Janice Parkinson, testified that Veronica Tucker was yelling because she wanted the Davidsons to leave her property, and not because she was threatening the defendant.

Davidson admitted to going home after the shooting and hiding in the attic. He added he did not know Judah Tucker had been shot until one of his younger brothers told him. Davidson added he was unaware of the child’s death until after he surrendered himself to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team.

McDade also questioned Davidson about his experience with guns. The defendant admitted he had fired assault rifles and other weapons with friends when he lived in Reno, Nev.

Davidson testified he bought the gun used in the shooting on April 5, 2007, and the bullets were purchased by a neighbor around two weeks prior to the shooting.

The defendant testified he had changed pants prior to the incident that led to the shooting, and the second pair of pants had a loaded .380 revolver in one of the front pockets.

Davidson said he did not sense a serious threat from Melvin Tucker when he put on the pants. He added he did not change pants because of the gun, but said he realized immediately the gun was in one of the pockets.

“I felt the weight of the gun when I put the pants on,” Davidson said.

Both the state and the defense rested their cases Wednesday.

Closing arguments are expected to begin today at 10 a.m. in Judge David Emerson’s courtroom.