A Kansas prosecutor on Thursday has announced charges in the killing of 4-year-old Legend M. Taliferro, who was shot while asleep in his home …
A Kansas prosecutor on Thursday has announced charges in the killing of 4-year-old Legend M. Taliferro, who was shot while asleep in his home in Kansas City, Missouri. Ryson Ellis,22, has been charged with 2nd-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon, and two counts of armed criminal action, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced. Ellis has been accused of firing bullets into a home at Citadel Apartments from an area behind the building. Investigators said the bullets were fired through a privacy fence and a sliding glass door. At the time,4-year-old Legend was asleep on the floor inside the apartment when he was struck. The child was brought to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead. A witness in the parking lot said the suspect of the gunman had a “fade cut” and facial hair on his chin, which matched the general description of Ellis, according to court documents (pdf). Taliferro’s aunt who was inside the apartment told investigators that she was asleep on the couch at the time of the shooting, the court papers said. She said she has a son with Ellis and provided investigators with contact information. The woman said a few days ago she was struck in the head at her residence she shared with Ellis. The 22-year-old then “yanked” their child out of her arms and left, investigators said. The woman complained about the assault to her brothers who then went to confront Ellis. One of the brothers is LeGend’s father who lived at the Citadel Apartments. Taliferro’s aunt also moved in with her family after the incident, out of fear that Ellis would harm her, the court papers said. She said during that time she had received threatening social media messages from Ellis and his mother.
