Seven men and seven women were chosen Monday morning to determine the guilt or innocence of Leonard Ware, who is accused of shooting and killing a co-worker last year.

Leonard Ware

Ware, 35, is charged with open murder, carrying a concealed weapon, being a felon in possession of a firearm and possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony. He’s accused of shooting and killing Bhagavan Allen, 29, on Oct. 3 on Grove Street in Ypsilanti.

Ware’s trial began with jury selection Monday morning in Washtenaw County Trial Court Judge Darlene O’Brien’s courtroom. A jury of 14 people was chosen by Washtenaw County Assistant Prosecutor Paul Barnett and Ware’s attorney, Jeffrey Taylor.

“It is your responsibility to determine what the facts of the case are,” O’Brien told the jury. “This is your job and no one else’s.”

After giving the jury her initial instructions, O’Brien adjourned the case until 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, when opening statements are expected.

The jury will initially be 14 people and then will be cut down to 12 when arguments in the case have concluded.

O’Brien instructed the jury to consider both premeditated, first-degree murder and second-degree murder charges. The charge of open murder essentially encompasses both of those charges, keeping prosecutors from having to argue for one of the specific charges.

According to testimony at a preliminary examination in November, Ware and Allen got into an argument at Marsh Plating in Ypsilanti, where they both worked. A fellow employee said Ware told Allen he wasn’t working hard enough and Allen took offense, with an intense verbal argument ensuing.

Allen reportedly blew off a peace offering from Ware after the argument, and Taylor alleged Allen slapped Ware in the face. Ware and Allen agreed to meet after their shifts ended to settle their differences outside.

Witnesses said the two men walked down opposite sides of Grove Street toward Michigan Avenue. Ware is accused of crossing the street and firing two shots from his handgun, causing Allen to fall to the ground. Witnesses alleged Ware then ran up to Allen and fired three more shots into him as he was on the ground.

Ware is held in the Washtenaw County Jail without bond and faces a maximum of life in prison if he’s convicted.

Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.