Jury convicts Chicago man on lesser charges in 2012 robbery, shooting

A Linn County jury convicted a Chicago man accused in the robbery and shooting of two peoople on lesser charges Monday.

The jury found Raymond Sellers, 24, guilty of two counts of willful injury causing serious injury, two counts of assault with intent to inflict serious injury and one count of simple assault. He faces up to 24 years in prison.

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

Sellers, along with others, went to Shannon Gaskins' apartment on April 20, 2012 to rob her and boyfriend Alexander White, according to testimony. Huff then shot the couple during the incident. Gaskins, 23, is permanently paralyzed as a result of the shooting and White, 24, was seriously injured.

Teran Huff, 26, of Des Moines, pleaded guilty last year in the case and is serving 55 years in prison, and Shantres Johnson, 22, of Cedar Rapids, also is charged in the crime and her trial is set later this month.

Huff testified last week for the defense, claiming Sellers didn't know anything about the robbery Huff helped plan. He said Sellers thought they were going to the Kirkwood Court Apartments to buy marijuana.

Sellers didn't testify but he told investigators during an videotaped interview played for the jury that he didn't go inside the apartment that day but then later said he did go inside but he didn't know about the robbery. He was only there to buy marijuana.

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