Jurors view interrogation of suspect in ‘Moody’ trial

Keshawn Jennings listens as James Moore testifies during the trial of Jennings and Antwaine Jones in Lucas County Common Pleas Court.

Toledo police grilled Keshawn Jennings for a grueling four hours just a few days after a 1-year-old girl was shot to death at the Moody Manor apartment complex.

On Monday, a jury hearing the case against Mr. Jennings and Antwaine Jones watched the lengthy videotaped interview during which Mr. Jennings changed his story several times but repeatedly denied he had anything to do with the shooting or knew who did.

“I didn’t do no shooting,” he told detectives.

Two forensic scientists with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation also took the stand Monday, the sixth day of what’s expected to be a two-week trial in Lucas County Common Pleas Court.

Mr. Jennings, 21, of 244 Wasaon St. and Mr. Jones, 19, of 3145 Cottage Ave. each are charged with aggravated murder, murder, improperly discharging a firearm into a habitation, attempted murder, and four counts of felonious assault, each with gun specifications. They face life in prison if convicted of the charges, which stem from the Aug. 9 shooting death of Keondra Hooks, and the wounding of her 2-year-old sister Leondra.

Martin Lewis of BCI testified that he analyzed four articles of clothing from the defendants for gunshot residue. Two of those items — a red Nike T-shirt and a black hooded sweatshirt — tested positive for gunshot residue, meaning they had been in close proximity to a fired weapon, Mr. Lewis said.

The jury of seven women and five men last week watched surveillance video taken at Moody Manor the night of the shootings that showed Mr. Jennings entering an apartment building in the red shirt emblazoned with the Nike logo, “Just Do It,” in large white letters. The video also showed him exiting the building in a black hooded sweatshirt with a red shirt hanging out underneath it.

Mr. Jennings, who admitted to police that he was one of the men captured on the surveillance video, was wearing the same red shirt in the taped interview with police at the Safety Building that began late on the night of Aug. 13 and continued into the early morning hours of Aug. 14.

Also Monday, Heather Bizzub of BCI testified that she tested a live round of ammunition found at the crime scene as well as the headband of a red and white Chicago Bulls hat for DNA. While no DNA was found on the live round, she said DNA consistent with Mr. Jennings, James Moore, and an unknown individual was found on the hat.

Moore, 21, who was indicted on the same charges but is not on trial, testified last week that he was at Moody Manor that night but drove Mr. Jennings’ grandmother’s van around the block to Vermont Street and picked the two men up after they shot into the apartment. He told the jury that as part of a plea agreement, he is to plead to manslaughter in exchange for a three-year prison term.

Prosecutors contend Mr. Jennings and Mr. Jones shot into an apartment at the North Toledo housing complex where they believed a rival gang member was inside, but they mistakenly fired into the wrong apartment.

Contact Jennifer Feehan at: jfeehan@theblade.com or 419-213-2134.