Daunte Goynes took the stand in his own defense on Thursday. He is charged with Second Degree Murder for the death of Aaron Lofton.

Lofton was shot at 41st and Hamilton in February, 2007.

The defense and prosecution agree that Goynes did shoot and kill 18-year-old Aaron Lofton after the two got into a fistfight near 40th and Hamilton. What is at issue is how Lofton was shot and why Goynes carried a gun.

In his testimony on Thursday, Goynes said he was being choked by Lofton during the fight. Goynes said that he suffers from asthma and thought he was going to die. Goynes told the court that he slipped and fell, reached for his gun and began shooting.

Defense attorney, Tom Riley asked Goynes, "Why did you have a gun?"

"For two reasons," Goynes said. "My safety -- and every time I go to the north side of Omaha."

Goynes claimed that he and Lofton were in rival gangs and that he had seen Lofton fire a gun into a crowd in 2006.

Under cross examination, Douglas County prosecutor Don Kleine asked Goynes, "During the fight in February 2007, did you see a gun, knife, bat or brass knuckles on Aaron Lofton?"

"No," Goynes said.

Kleine: "Were you breathing?

Goynes: "Yes."

Kleine: "Where were you pointing the gun?"

Goynes: "Straight ahead."

Kleine: "Where was Aaron Lofton?"

Goynes: "I don't know."

Goynes also testified that Aaron Lofton shot at him a few months prior to the February 2007 shooting in which Lofton was killed.

Final arguments are expected in the trial on Friday.