A firearms expert from the Wisconsin State Crime Lab is expected to continue testifying in the homicide trial of Tremaine Jones, now entering its fifth day.
Troy Chadwick, a firearm and toolmark examiner for the Wisconsin State Crime Lab, took the stand late in the afternoon on April 2. He was there to talk about the guns and spent projectiles police collected following the shooting last year of Milwaukee Police Officers Kendall Corder and Christopher McCray.
Chadwick’s testimony was cut short, around 4:30 p.m., as court broke for the day. He is expected to return to the stand when court reconvenes at 8:45 a.m. on April 3.
Here’s what happened on Day 4:
Witness IDs Jones as shooter from the street
Ervin Toombs recorded two fights between groups of women that unfolded outside the North 25th Street apartment he shared with his grandmother. The fights occurred on June 25 and 26, the day Corder and McCray were shot.
They were shot in an alley near North 25th Street and West Garfield Avenue.
Toombs testified that in the June 26 incident, he saw a man carrying a backpack fire a rifle into the air then at an upstairs apartment. He also testified someone from inside the apartment returned fire.
Toombs identified Jones as the shooter from a photo array.
Woman whose fight thing in motion testifies for the state
Jermela Kittler, 21, was one of the women involved in the two fights.
She testified she came back to the neighborhood intending to continue the fight, but discovered the other woman had friends with her, including a man carrying a gun.
Kittler told the jury she called Jones for backup, and he showed up with a backpack and a rifle. Jones screamed threats that he was going to “shoot the house up,” and fired a shot from the street, Kittler testified.
Kittler testified Jones later contacted her saying he needed a change of clothes. She brought them, no questions asked.
Prosecutors charged Kittler with harboring and aiding a felon in connection with the case against Jones. Online court records show she is expected to plead guilty on April 10.
Jury learned how how Officer Kendall Corder died
Dr. Doug Kelley, Milwaukee County’s deputy chief medical examiner, testified Corder suffered a total of three gunshots wounds.
Jurors also were shown photos of a series of small graze wounds on Corder’s right lower leg. Kelley said they appeared to be consistent with broken bullet fragments from a ricochet off the concrete.
McCray, a six-year veteran of the Milwaukee police force, was shot in the leg and foot and survived. Corder, who also had six years’ experience with MPD, died three days later.
Jones, 23, has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree intentional homicide, attempted first-degree intentional homicide, possession of a short-barrel rifle and first-degree recklessly endangering safety.
Jones’ trial began March 30. Jones faces life in prison if he is convicted on the homicide charge.
Chris Ramirez covers courts for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He can be reached at caramirez@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Tremaine Jones Trial Day 5: Firearms expert retakes the stand
Reporting by Chris Ramirez, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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