Another defendant testifies to seeing Tajh Ross with murder weapon

Jeremiah Ellis testified Wednesday he fired shots with his revolver the night Latasha Roundtree was killed but he wasn't shooting at her or even at the car she was in Sept. 22, 2012.

Ellis, 20, heard a gunshot and then glass shattering. The shot came from in front of him over by 649 16th Ave. SW.

'I ducked down…..on ground and just came up shooting,” Ellis said. 'I was crouched down and just raised up my arm, kind of up in the air.”

When he looked up, he saw Tajh Ross crouched down with the .40 caliber gun in his hand, pointing it towards the street.

Ellis said he turned around, started running and then shot over his shoulder three times. He admitted he couldn't say with certainty that Ross fired the gun or that he shot at the car.

Ellis was the last of four defendants who have pleaded guilty to their part in Roundtree's fatal shooting and have testified in Ross' trial. Ellis pleaded to accessory after the fact, conspiracy to commit a felony of going armed and intimidation with a dangerous weapon.

Ross, 20, is charged with first-degree murder in Roundtree's death. He is accused of shooting and killing Roundtree while she was a passenger in a car. She was with two friends as they were headed to a party where Ross was also that night, according to testimony.

Ross also is charged with intimidation with a dangerous weapon, conspiracy to commit a forcible felony and going armed with intent.

The prosecution continues its case 9 a.m. Thursday in Linn County District Court. The defense may start Thursday afternoon. The trial started last week.

'Replay live coverage: Tajh Ross murder trial, day 7

Ellis corroborated some of the other witnesses' version of events and stuck with his version of events, except to admit he didn't see Ross shoot at the car. He also admitted he wasn't forthcoming with police in the beginning because he was on probation at the time for another conviction. Ellis said he also didn't want to be a 'snitch” by naming Ross and he was worried about threats towards his family and his girlfriend at the time. Ellis had gone to some other places that night and he found out Devonte Safforld was threatening to 'shoot up” his house, 649 16th Ave. SW. When he returned to the house for his brother's party, Ross, Liban and Yasin Muhidin and Adrian Kenney, other defendants in this case, were at the house. He didn't know Ross and Kenney. He knew Liban and was familiar with Yasin.

Ross and Liban Muhidin showed up in clown suits and were wearing 'scary” masks, Ellis said.

First Assistant Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks asked if they were wearing gloves.

Ellis said Ross was wearing latex gloves.

The only DNA found on the .40 caliber was Yasin's, according to previous testimony.

Yasin Muhidin and Kenney had left at some point but when they came back, Liban Muhidin took an AK-47 out of the trunk and Ross had the .40 caliber. Ellis went across the street to an abandoned house to get the others away from the house because of the threat. Liban, Ross and others followed him over.

Ellis then heard that first gunshot and the glass shattering. He fired twice but he wasn't aiming at anything. That's when he saw Ross with the .40 caliber.

Ellis then ran by the side of 649 into the alley and he saw Ross and Liban near the garage behind 649, where .40 caliber shell casings were recovered by police. Liban was yelling at Ross 'ditch it.” Ellis said he kept running and he's not sure what Ross did.

An audio recording from a neighbor's surveillance camera captures the gunshots and some voices. In the recording, someone yells 'ditch it” after the shots are fired.

Ellis said he didn't find out Roundtree was shot until he saw it on Facebook or other social media.

'Gazette Reporter Trish Mehaffey continues her live coverage from the courtroom. Follow her live blog at thegazette.com. Followers can provide comments and ask questions during the trial.