BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (25 News) – Accused killer Tomiyale M. Anderson will not testify in his own defense at his murder trial in McLean County Court.
After five days of testimony, the 22-year-old Georgia man confirmed he would not take the stand, as the case moves to closing arguments Monday.
Anderson is charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and aggravated discharge of a firearm in connection with the April 8, 2022, shooting that killed Peoria high schooler Kanye “Muzzy” Stowers at a Bloomington house party on East Mill Street.
Jurors spent much of Friday hearing about evidence collected during the investigation, including cellphone location data, social media posts, text messages and a rap track prosecutors say references details surrounding Stowers’ death.
Multiple Bloomington police officers testified about the rap track, with each identifying the voice on the recording as Anderson’s.
Jurors heard the track, which opens with an expletive directed at “Muzzy” and includes the lyrics “Muzzy tried to run from this Glock,” and that he “tripped and fell” and had to “hop this fence.”
Investigators testified that portions of the track appeared to reference details surrounding the shooting on April 8, 2022. Prosecutors previously showed surveillance video in which Stowers could be seen tripping and falling, while testimony throughout the trial has also focused on a fence surrounding the East Mill Street home.
Jack McQueen, from the Bloomington Police crime and intelligence unit, also testified that the track contained references to two previous Bloomington homicides.
Det. Brock Merritt returned to the stand Friday. Prosecutors showed body camera footage from the day after the slaying after neighbors reported seeing people run through their backyard following the shooting.
Sgt. Kevin Raisbeck, a former Bloomington police detective, testified that he reviewed more than 3,500 pages of text messages and calls during the investigation.
Among those were conversations between Anderson and Ahmad Manns, who testified on Thursday. Manns was at the East Mill Street home twice the night of the shooting. During his testimony, he repeatedly said he could not remember details he gave police in 2022, including hearing gunshots before driving away.
However, the prosecution played for the jury jailhouse calls between Manns and Anderson discussing the investigation and trial.
In one exchange, Manns told Anderson he would send him money through Cash App and urged him to stay quiet.
Raisbeck also testified about cellphone location information associated with Manns from before and after the homicide.
During cross-examination, the defense questioned the accuracy of the location data, pointing to an instance in which the data placed Manns at one house while his address was at a neighboring property. The defense also challenged investigators’ interpretations of slang and acronyms in the messages, arguing that their meanings can vary between individuals.
The jury heard again from retired Det. Brad Melton who testified about evidence obtained from Anderson’s Snapchat accounts through a search warrant.
Jurors were shown multiple videos and images associated with the account that showed Anderson handling, displaying, or firing guns and appearing with people who have previously testified in the trial.
The defense questioned whether investigators could determine whether Anderson recorded the images and videos himself or whether some had been sent to him through Snapchat.
The trial enters its second week, with the jury expected to hear attorneys’ closing arguments before they start deliberations.
(Reporting by Angeles Ponpa, 25 News)
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