She then heard Spates fire a gun next to her on the balcony down toward Willis and Romero, she said. Nehrbass said from a balcony she saw Willis put a gun to Romero’s stomach and then Willis and Romero wrestled for control of the gun before she heard a gunshot. Both face first-degree murder charges.ĭuring the preliminary hearing for Spates, Romero’s girlfriend, Caylee Nehrbass, testified that Willis had pulled a gun and shot Romero while Willis was trying to rob him during an exchange of marijuana. 12, 2022.Īs previously reported by the Journal-World, Spates was charged with first degree murder after he allegedly shot Christian Willis while in the commission of a marijuana sale.Ĭharged in the shooting are Spates and Javier I. Spates’ defense attorney Adam Hall said that the evidence found in Spates’ car was consistent with a user of marijuana and that there wasn’t enough in the car to warrant a distribution charge.ĭonovan set a trial date for the new charges for Oct. Smyser said he found a large bag of green vegetation after searching the vehicle and when Smyser asked Spates about it, Spates claimed the marijuana was for personal use for an injury he had sustained and he did not intend to sell it. Smyser said he pulled Spates over because his tail light was out and when Spates stopped for the officer, Smyser saw evidence of marijuana in the car including a rolling tray and a backpack with baggies sticking out. 8, 2021, in the 1500 block of Kentucky Street.Īt a preliminary hearing for the new charges, Judge Stacey Donovan determined that there was sufficient evidence to take Spates to trial after the arresting officer, Charles Smyser of the Lawrence Police Department, testified that he pulled Spates over and found 3.8 ounces of marijuana in his car. Spates is also facing a first-degree murder charge for the lethal shooting of Christian Willis, 21, of Wichita, on Sept. Spates Jr., 20, Lawrence, is facing a marijuana distribution charge stemming back to a traffic stop in July of 2021. 29, 2021.Ī Lawrence man awaiting trial for first-degree murder was bound over for trial for additional drug charges on Monday.Īndrel D. Spates, Jr., appears in Douglas County District Court on Wednesday, Dec. Photo by: Dylan Lysen/Lawrence Journal-WorldĪndrel D.
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