Witness testimony began yesterday morning in the trial of the man accused of driving the vehicle linked to the May 11, 2001 drive-by shooting and murder of Ohio State student Ryan Morbitzer.
Kylon Jones is charged with compliance to murder, aiding and abetting and tampering with evidence.
The shooting occurred on the sidewalk in front of 83 E. 11th Ave. as Morbitzer was walking alone on the north side of the street.
A witness who observed the incident from atop a balcony across the street said she saw a “red sport utility vehicle driving down 11th Avenue from the High Street area.”
The vehicle slowed down and swerved to get closer to the sidewalk, she said. Shots were fired, the vehicle sped off and Morbitzer stepped into the street saying he had been shot.
A second witness, walking up 11th Avenue with a friend around 2:30 a.m., said she heard a noise they thought was fireworks.
She said they knew the noise was not fireworks when they heard “the roar of a loud engine” followed by “someone screaming.”
She said they ran home, called 911 and ventured back outside to provide help.
“We asked him his name,” she said. “He was very awake, coherent, talking to us. He was very alive.”
The crowd was just looking at him, she said. Shirts and towels had been thrown by pedestrians and residents of nearby apartments to help stop the bleeding.
The witness said her friend was a physical therapy major and applied first aid to Morbitzer by holding a shirt to cover the hole in his back.
One of the first Columbus police officers on the scene was Bryan Dyer.
“We secured witnesses and isolated them so they couldn’t compare stories,” Dyer said. “We called the paramedics. He was alive when medical help arrived.”
Columbus police officer Andrew Ward found the alleged vehicle associated with the crime 15 minutes after the shooting.
Jones and a 17-year-old female passenger were in the vehicle when it was found, Ward said. The murder weapon was not found when Jones was pulled over.
“Jones was cooperative and did not try to flee,” Ward said.
Jones and his passenger were detained for questioning by Columbus police detectives.
Marlon Crowley was in the car with Jones the night Morbitzer was shot.
Crowley, who was the gunman, was convicted last winter of aggravated murder and felonious assault.
