Cedar Rapids man testifies he shot Kenyauta Vesey-Keith because he was armed

CEDAR RAPIDS — Denzel Wilson testified Monday that he was out having a good time, drinking and getting over a break up at a bar on June 10, 2023. That was until he saw Kenyauta Vesey-Keith and his “mood” changed.

Wilson said he and Vesey-Keith “locked eyes” and he was “on guard” at that point, while both were waiting outside in line to get into Poppa N Tommyz, 1323 First Ave. SE, that night. Vesey-Keith was behind Wilson and several people in the line, but Wilson became concerned when he saw Vesey-Keith leave the line a few times toward the “cut” — a small pathway in between the bar and car wash next door.

Wilson said he thought Vesey-Keith, who had already been in the bar, was going back to get a gun. As Vesey-Keith came out of that cut area and started walking past Wilson, who was still in line, Vesey-Keith reached for something at his waist or pocket, which Wilson said was a gun, and so he shot him.

Wilson admitted he didn’t wait to see if Vesey-Keith had a gun. He knew Vesey-Keith’s reputation and had issues with him over the years, although he didn’t cite a specific issue, except that Vesey-Keith killed a man in 2016 and Vesey-Keith had made threats about Wilson to others.

Wilson is on trial for first-degree murder and going armed with intent in the fatal shooting of Vesey-Keith, 23, in the early hours of June 11, 2023. His trial started last Tuesday and the prosecution rested Monday. The defense is expected to wrap up Wednesday in Linn County District Court.

Wilson says he was acting in self-defense

A prosecutor said last week Wilson killed Vesey-Keith for revenge because Vesey-Keith had killed his fellow gang member, Brandon Johnson. The rival groups have continued to have “bitterness” and incidents over the years, the prosecutor said.

Witnesses, during trial, have testified Wilson was the shooter that night.

Wilson is claiming self-defense because he feared Vesey-Keith and felt threatened when he saw him that night.

Wilson testified he ran away after the shooting because he didn’t want to go to jail. He was scared when he got back into a vehicle with Jalen Jackson and Melissa Thiher, who identified him as the shooter last week. He was dropped off near railroad tracks on the south side of town and went to a friend’s house. He said he was in a “blur” for a while.

Wilson said he didn’t know Vesey-Keith was going to die. He wasn’t angry when he shot Vesey-Keith. He was just protecting himself, he testified.

The next morning, Wilson testified he left Cedar Rapids and went to his father’s in Chicago. Two or three days later, he threw away the gun in the trash — somewhere in Chicago. He spent the rest of June through August staying in Chicago, going back to Cedar Rapids and then to Indiana.

When asked about what others testified to as a gang, called MOB, that he was allegedly a member of, Wilson said it was a “friend group” and stood for “My Only Brothers.” He and his best friend, Tenacious Harris, were in the group, and he has a MOB tattoo on his hand but he said it was more in remembrance of Harris, 20, who was fatally shot in 2019. The case remains unsolved. Wilson said he also has a tattoo of “Tenacious” on his right forearm.

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Wilson said he was shot in February 2019, two or three days after Harris was killed. That incident scared him and he didn’t go out much after that until 2023. He said he doesn’t know who shot him.

Wilson said he started carrying a gun after he was shot because he wanted to defend himself and his family.

Cross examination focuses on gang affiliation, security video

On cross examination, Wilson said he wasn’t a member of MOB, but when Assistant Linn County Attorney Jordan Schier asked about his tattoo of MOB, Wilson admitted it he has one, but said it was more for Tenacious. He also admitted to being a member since 2017 and knowing MOB and BNA, Vesey-Keith’s gang, had problems over the years since Vesey-Keith fatally shot Brandon Johnson, 21, of Cedar Rapids, who was affiliated with MOB.

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Schier asked if Wilson knew Vesey-Keith by his nickname, “Bubba,” and he agreed. Wilson also admitted he told a psychologist that he and Bubba had previous issues and were in different groups that didn’t like each other.

Schier asked Wilson whether he had carried guns since before he was shot in 2019, and Wilson said he had.

Schier showed Wilson a surveillance video clip, played throughout trial, which Wilson said is when he and Vesey-Keith’s eyes locked, but the video appears to show Vesey-Keith with his back turned toward Wilson as he’s standing in the doorway of bar. Vesey-Keith also is blocked from Wilson by other people in line.

Wilson, who is shown wearing dark sunglasses the entire time, said they were making eye contact. He took it as a threat and he thought Vesey-Keith was armed when he walked past Wilson. Wilson said he saw Vesey-Keith reaching for something and Wilson pulled out his gun.

But, Schier asked, didn’t Vesey-Keith have his phone in his hand and was looking down when Wilson said he was reaching for a gun.

Schier said Vesey-Keith’s hands were in front of him with a phone and his other hand is empty, but Wilson said no.

Schier also pointed out that no firearm was found on Vesey-Keith or on the ground where Vesey-Keith fell after being shot at four times. He was struck twice in the neck and side.

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Wilson said that didn’t mean Vesey-Keith didn’t have a gun.

Schier asked Wilson didn’t he get rid of the gun and never reported the shooting to police.

Wilson said he threw it away in a trash can in Chicago. He didn’t remember where and didn’t call police.

Wilson was found in Indiana by the U.S. Marshals Service and brought back to Iowa.

The defense has one additional witness for Tuesday and the prosecution may have rebuttal testimony.

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