Tajh Ross murder trial: Friend testifies about night Latasha Roundtree was killed

A friend of Latasha Roundtree's testified Tuesday about what happened the night Roundtree was shot in her car and later died.

Haley McConnell said she, Roundtree and another friend, Neil Clark, were headed to a party Sept. 22, 2012, that Roundtree found out about. They were looking for 649 16th Ave. SW, an address and area of town. None of them were familiar with the area or had been to this house.

As they approached the house, after going around the block a few times looking, McConnell saw a man run across the street in front of the car, then she heard her car window shatter and a gunshot.

'It didn't register to me what was going on,” McConnell said, tearing up. 'We all started to scream. I didn't hear her (Roundtree). I knew something was wrong.”

McConnell was the second witness Tuesday as the bench trial started for Tajh Ross, 20, who is charged with first-degree murder. He is accused of shooting and killing Roundtree, 19, of Cedar Rapids, that night. Ross also faces charges of intimidation with a dangerous weapon, conspiracy to commit a forcible felony and going armed with intent. He is accused of firing a gun into the car, according to a criminal complaint.

According to the prosecution, Roundtree wasn't the target in this planned shooting, but she later died from gunshot wounds.

First Assistant Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks said in his opening that Ross armed himself with a gun and fired into the car, shooting Roundtree. It was a premeditated and malicicous act.

The defense reserved its right of opening but indicated Ross will claim the shooting was self-defense or in defense of another, according to court records.

'Replay live coverage: Tajh Ross trial, Day 1.

The prosecution continues its case 9 a.m. Wednesday in Linn County District Court.

McConnell said after the gunshots she started driving toward Mercy Hospital and they called 911 on the way. At the hospital, she noticed the passenger side window was shattered and that Roundtree had been shot in the head.

McConnell said there were more gunshots fired after her window shattered but she didn't see a shooter. She couldn't identify the man who ran out in front of her car, except that he was black and he was wearing a puffer vest.

On cross examination, McConnell was asked more about how they found out about the party and if her passengers had weapons.

McConnell said Roundtree received the text and she programmed the address into her phone to get directions. She didn't think Roundtree knew people at the party but if she didn't, that wasn't strange that she wanted to go.

McConnell said nobody in her car had guns or other illegal items.

Todd Weimer, Ross' attorney, asked if Roundtree seemed nervous about going to the party.

McConnell said no.

Kenneth Miller testified about a DVD that was captured from his surveillance cameras that night. He lived on 18th Avenue SW directly behind the house where Roundtree and her friends were headed that night.

The cameras recorded visual and audio in 10-minute intervals but the visual part wasn't clear.

There were voices, screaming, gunshots, a car or cars revving up the motor and tires screeching. It was difficult to make out what the voices were saying.

Several of Roundtree's family and friends became upset and got up and left the courtroom when the DVD was played.

Miller also found a handgun underneath the steps of one of his garages. After police responded to the shooting, they were looking for evidence and he started looking around his property and found the gun. He didn't touch it but alerted an officer who then collected it.

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