Edward Paredes testified Tuesday he carried the handgun for protection after being robbed at gunpoint at the Eaton Centre in the summer of 2007. (Alex Tavshunsky/CBC)

The man who fired the bullet that killed John O'Keefe outside Toronto's Brass Rail strip club two years ago says if he'd been more careful with his gun an innocent bystander would still be alive today.

O'Keefe, 42, was shot and killed outside the Yonge Street club, just south of Bloor Street, in the early hours of Jan. 12, 2008, as he headed home from a downtown pub.

Edward Paredes, 24, admitted in court Tuesday that carrying a loaded gun was wrong, but he said he had no intention of killing anyone.

Paredes and Awet Zekarias, 25, have both pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in O'Keefe's death.

Paredes told a similar story to his co-accused Zekarias, who testified on Monday.

He said that on Jan. 12 he was angered and humiliated when Brass Rail's bouncers tossed the pair out of the club for no reason.

Paredes testified he carried the handgun for protection after being robbed at gunpoint at the Eaton Centre of his iPod in the summer of 2007.

The former Bay salesman told the court he was simply forgetful or too lazy to have left the gun in his car.

Both men told the court they were walking away when they allege bouncer Shane Knox called them vulgar names, while calling them back to retrieve a forgotten cellphone.

As Zekarias went back to get his cellphone, Paredes said he snapped.

"That's when I made up my mind. I'm going to shoot around in the air and scare … this guy," Paredes told the court.

After firing shots, Paredes said he and Zekarias ran back to his car and drove home.

Paredes testified he didn't know O'Keefe had been killed until he turned on the news the next day.

"If I was looking where I shot, Mr. O'Keefe would still be alive ... I just wanted to scare Mr. Knox," Paredes told the court.

The Crown contends that Paredes and Zekarias wanted to retaliate against the Brass Rail's staff and that they intended to shoot Knox, but hit O'Keefe instead.

The trial continues Wednesday.