City police arrest two in slaying
Authorities say man was fatally shot early today at the Forest Village Apartments.
Date published: 1/6/2009
BY KEITH EPPS
Two people have been arrested and charged in connection with Fredericksburg’s first homicide of the year.
Toronto Deshawn Eura, 26, is charged with first-degree murder, city police spokeswoman Natatia Bledsoe said. Eura is accused of shooting 21-year-old Jamair Ellis to death in the parking lot at Forest Village apartments early this morning. Police arrested Eura at his home today.
Ebony Charde Boone of Fredericksburg, who will turn 22 Thursday, was arrested this morning and charged with being an accessory to murder. It was not immediately clear what alleged role Boone played in the slaying.
According to Bledsoe, police first learned of the shooting about 1:25 a.m. after receiving a call from Mary Washington Hospital. Ellis had been driven to the hospital by a friend who witnessed the shooting and was highly agitated, police said.
Ellis, who had been shot multiple times in the upper torso while sitting in the driver’s seat of his car, was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital. His friend somehow managed to drive Ellis to the hospital with Ellis still in the driver’s seat, Bledsoe said.
The witness told police that he and Ellis were sitting in the car when a man approached and began firing shots into Ellis at close range. Bledsoe said police have a good idea of what led to the shooting, but would only describe it as a "personal dispute."
Bledsoe said police are still interviewing witnesses who either heard the shooting or saw the immediate aftermath. She said police received no calls from Forest Village about the incident.
A special person of interest who police would like to speak with is a large black man who was with Eura at the time, Bledsoe said. He is described as being 6 feet 5 inches tall and 300 pounds with a beard and shoulder-length dreadlocks.
Bledsoe said city police have requested help from the FBI in processing the vehicle Ellis was in for a forensic examination.
Eura is well known to city police and has numerous relatives and friends living in the Fredericksburg area, Bledsoe said.
He is scheduled to stand trial in Fredericksburg Circuit Court next week on a distributing marijuana charge, and he was already wanted in the city for failing to appear in court on some driving charges, court records show.
His local convictions including eluding police in both Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania and unlawful wounding in the city.
Keith Epps: 540/374-5404
kepps@freelancestar.com
Read more stories about Fredericksburg
Date published: 1/6/2009
Most recent reader comments:
one without sin cast the first stone
(posted by
sneakylocker
, Jan. 8, 2009 8:41 am)  
first i would like to say to fugoff you can say whatever you want about the dead but thats not who is looking at this we are, meaning his family and friends and you should have respect towards us this is not easy for us and also get your facts straight. i would like to thank everyone that understood that and took up for him and us he was a great kid,friend, and most of all a great family member you will forever be missed and always loved i miss you already man. you will always be in our hearts we love you.
RE: fugoff
(posted by
Mooseman
, Jan. 7, 2009 12:34 am)  
Not matter what lifestyle Mr Ellis lived, who are you to judge him? You don't know what he may have went through in his life, nor the circumstances that led to his convictions. He was a young man and may have made some mistakes or went through peer pressure. None of that gave the piece of crap the right to take his life. No matter what it isn't up to you to post crap like you did about him. My thoughts and prayers go out to this young mans family.
RIP Jamar Ellis
(posted by
JdMorris8705
, Jan. 6, 2009 7:09 pm)  
I went to school with Jamar he wasnt a bad person and he didnt deserve to get shot. I send my prayers to his family.
To: Sleeplessnites
(posted by
action_jackson
, Jan. 6, 2009 5:30 pm)  
Thank you from me and my family,
Mr. Zorro???
(posted by
fugoff
, Jan. 6, 2009 3:32 pm)  
What does voting for Obama have to do with this article? Because the suspect and victim is black? That is so irrelevant to this story. Are you racist? Keep your "facts" to yourself unless they relate to the story you are posting on.
I do think that congratulating the city police department is relevant and well deserved!
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