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Published Sunday, November 01, 2009 in Local

Trial Monday for suspect in gang-related shooting

By Elizabeth Richardson

The Times-Herald

The trial for Jimmy Lee Rosser Jr. is scheduled to begin Monday in Coweta Superior Court.

Rosser is the remaining defendant to go before the court for the Sept. 2, 2008, gang-related shooting of 23-year-old Brandon Fraizer on Ishman Ballard Road.

Rosser, who is being represented by attorney Roger Montgomery, is charged with armed robbery, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, possession of a knife/gun during the commission of a felony, violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to Assistant District Attorney Ray Mayer, Rosser is the ranking person in the gang known as Nationwide, which authorities say has a local group in the area of Richard Allen Drive in Newnan. The prosecution claims that Rosser was with the shooter -- Jemelle Phillip Moss -- the evening of the attack, and was "backing him up," according to Mayer.

The prosecution contends that Rosser's influence coerced the other participants into following through with the crime.

Authorities say that, on Sept. 2, 2008, Moss and a 15-year-old went to the home at 650 Ishman Ballard Road to rob the resident -- 23-year-old Mario Britt -- of money and drugs because they were aware that Britt was moving illegal narcotics out of that residence.

Investigators say that Britt didn't come outside and, in the midst of a dispute, Moss struck Fraizer with his SKS rifle and it went off, accidentally shooting him once in the head. Fraizer remained hospitalized following the incident for months, but he has since been released.

The 15-year-old juvenile pleaded guilty in Coweta Juvenile Court in October 2008 to criminal attempt at armed robbery and aggravated battery. He was sentenced to five years in prison, which is the maximum a juvenile can get. He was also convicted and sentenced for an unrelated charge of possession of cocaine after officials at the juvenile court discovered he was hiding cocaine under his bandanna.

Moss pleaded guilty to armed robbery, aggravated battery and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. He was sentenced to 10 years to serve eight in prison, and an additional five years probation for the firearm charge. Moss was also sentenced in October 2008 to five years with one to serve in prison for an incident that occurred at the Newnan House in which police found more than 10 grams of cocaine on Moss.

The investigation into the Ishman Ballard shooting also led to the arrest of Sidarius Deanglo Echols. Echols pleaded guilty Sept. 2 to two counts armed robbery, aggravated assault, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, possession of a knife during the commission of a felony and violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act. Echols was sentenced to six years probation, a $1,000 fine and 80 hours of community service -- all under the first offender status.

Gerald San Juan Walton was also arrested in connection with the shooting. Walton pleaded guilty on Sept. 22 to possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. Walton was sentenced to five years probation followed by 12-24 months in a detention center.

Both Echols and Walton have agreed to testify against Rosser.