Shooting suspect to have preliminary hearing

Published 6:10 pm Monday, November 27, 2017

The last of six people charged in a shooting that left two teenage girls dead is expected back in court Wednesday.

Ronnie Ellis, 18, is charged with two counts of complicity to commit murder for allegedly participating in the Nov. 7, shooting at 27 E. Washington St. The charge means police believe he was involved with others in committing a crime.

Ellis, 18, was in Clark District Court Nov. 15 for his preliminary hearing, which is used to establish probable cause for the charge. At that time, Ellis’ attorney requested the hearing be continued for two weeks to allow for further investigation.

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Ellis is charged along with 24-year-old Denzel Hill, 22-year-old Darian Skinner and 23-year-old Matthew Carmen. Police believe the four were active participants in the shooting, with Carmen being on the opposite side from the other three.

Another 18-year-old, Mikaela Buford, is also charged with two counts of complicity to commit murder for reportedly driving Hill, Ellis and Skinner to the apartments where the shooting took place.

The two victims, 16-year-olds Adrianna Castro and Kayla Holland, were in between the groups of armed men.

In Carmen’s preliminary hearing last week, Winchester Police Sgt. Tom Beall said there was a verbal argument earlier in the day which involved Buford, Ellis, Hill, Skinner and the two victims, among others who were not charged.

Carmen’s girlfriend Julia Richardson, 25, was also arrested for tampering with physical evidence after she allegedly removed a box of ammunition from the scene of the shooting and left it in a nearby backyard.

Hill, Skinner, Carmen and Richardson all had their preliminary hearings in Clark District Court. In each case, the judge ruled there was probable cause for the charges and sent the cases to the grand jury for further consideration.

Buford and her attorney waived their case directly to the grand jury.

The grand jury will decide whether to issue indictments or to dismiss the charges.

About Fred Petke

Fred Petke is a reporter for The Winchester Sun, the Jessamine Journal and the State Journal. His beats include cops, courts, fire, public records, city and county government and other news. To contact Fred, email fred.petke@bluegrassnewsmedia.com or call 859-759-0051.

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