Cedar Rapids woman testifies her ex fired multiple shots at boyfriend Reginald Ward

CEDAR RAPIDS — A Cedar Rapids woman testified Wednesday her ex-boyfriend, Todd Jenkins, on trial this week for first-degree murder, was the only one with a weapon when he fired multiple shots at her boyfriend Oct. 30, 2019, at a gas station.

Kiara Morrise, 23, said her boyfriend, Reginald Ward, 27, of Moline, Ill., attempted to fight Jenkins, 25, of Davenport, after Jenkins followed them to the Kum & Go, 3132 First Ave. NE.

Ward said he was “going to beat Todd’s a--,” she testified in Linn County District Court.

Morrise said she saw Jenkins with a handgun as he got out of the car. Jenkins started saying, “Get back, get back,” as he was walking backward when Ward was saying, “Shoot it, shoot it” as he moved toward Jenkins.

Morrise said she walked away because she couldn’t help. She said she saw Ward reach for Jenkins’ gun, and Jenkins fired three shots. She thinks he fired two more. Ward was on the ground and she went over to help him, and Jenkins left.

“There was a lot of blood on the ground,” she said.

Ward had gun injuries to his leg and hip area, according to a trial exhibit. He died the next day at UnityPoint Health-St. Luke's Hospital.

Jenkins is charged with first-degree murder and going armed with intent and is claiming self-defense.

Jenkins waived his right to a jury trial, and 6th Judicial District Judge Fae Hoover will decide the verdict, a few weeks after testimony wraps up.

The defense reserved its opening statement until the start of its case, which will be next Tuesday.

Morrise has been charged with helping Jenkins evade arrest and not cooperating with authorities, but she agreed to provide truthful testimony in this trial for a possible dismissal of the accessory after the fact charge she faces.

She was hesitant and seemed uncooperative when she first began testifying but eventually started answering questions from Assistant Linn County Attorney Jordan Schier.

She said it was difficult for her to testify because she had been a previous relationship with Jenkins and had loved him. She also was with Jenkins in an Aurora, Ill., hotel in March 2020 when he was arrested.

Jenkins had sent her flowers with a card saying he loved her sometime before Oct. 30, 2019. They stayed in touch by text or calling.

Morrise said Jenkins was waiting in the parking lot when she and Ward left her apartment. Ward was taking her to work, she said, and she didn’t see Jenkins at first because he was driving a vehicle she hadn’t seen before.

Schier played a surveillance video of Jenkins following Ward and Morrise from her apartment. Ward first pulled into another convenience store on First Avenue and Jenkins followed him to the gas pumps. The vehicles were parked across from each other for a few minutes.

In the video, Ward leaves without getting gas and Jenkins follows him another two miles to the Kum & Go.

On cross-examination, Brian Sissel, Linn County chief public defender, asked if it was fair to say Ward wasn’t “fond” of Jenkins.

Morrise agreed.

Sissel asked if she had seen Ward with a gun at other times, and Morrise said yes.

Sissel asked if Jenkins was pointing the gun at Ward, and Morrise said he wasn’t when he told Ward to “get back.”

Morrise said Ward tried to get Jenkins’ gun when shots were fired. She thought Ward touched the gun but he didn’t have control of it.

If convicted of first-degree murder, Jenkins faces life in prison without parole.

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