Convicted robber testifies his friend wasn’t involved in Cedar Rapids shooting

Teran Huff testified Thursday that Raymond Sellers didn't know anything about the robbery Huff helped plan in 2012 that ended in two people being shot and seriously injured.

Huff, 26, of Des Moines, who pleaded last year in the robbery and shooting, said his friend Sellers thought they were going to the Kirkwood Court Apartments to buy marijuana, but Huff and four women had planned to rob residents, Shannon Gaskins, 23, and her boyfriend Alexander White, 24.

Huff, testifying for the defense, claimed Sellers didn't know he had gun with him when they went inside the apartment and he made Sellers 'fall in line” once the gun came out.

Sellers, 24, of Chicago, is charged with two counts each of attempted murder and willful injury causing serious injury, and one count each of first-degree robbery, conspiracy to commit a forcible felony, going armed with intent and possession of a firearm as a felon.

Sellers, along with Huff and Shantres Johnson, 22, of Cedar Rapids, are accused of going to Gaskins' apartment on April 20, 2012 to rob her and White. Huff then shot the couple during the incident. Gaskins is permanently paralyzed as a result of the shooting and White was seriously injured.

Johnson's trial is later this month and Huff pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 55 years in prison last year.

The defense rested Thursday after Sellers decided not to take the stand. Closing arguments are expected to start at 9 a.m. Friday.

Huff said he and Sellers, along with Shantres Johnson and her three sisters, drove to the apartment. Huff said he and the sisters discussed the robbery before picking up Sellers. It was Johnson's idea because she knew Gaskins had money, Huff said.

Huff admitted he shot Gaskins and White but he continued to say he forced Sellers to go along with him once they were inside.

Cedar Rapids police Investigator George Aboud, as a rebuttal witness, introduced a videotaped police interview with Huff. Huff in that interview said Sellers brought the gun and he didn't mention forcing Sellers to go along with him.

Huff testified in court that he shot Gaskins before helping Sellers, who had been shot by White, out of the apartment. He said he knew she could easily identify him because he has tattoos under his eyes.

'I said (to Sellers) should I kill her but he said no,” Huff said.

In the taped interview, he told Aboud the gun went off, hitting Gaskins, as he and Sellers were attempting to leave.