KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The man accused of shooting and killing 4-year-old LeGend Taliferro as he slept in his father’s apartment in late June is scheduled to go to trial next year.
Bond for Ryson Ellis, who was arrested two months ago in Oklahoma and charged with four felonies, was reduced to $250,000 on Thursday and a trial date was set for Sept. 13, 2021.
Ellis was charged with second-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon and two counts of armed criminal action after his arrest.
LeGend’s mom, Charron Powell, said the family knew Ellis and her son “loved him.”
LeGend’s shooting led to an outcry in the Kansas City community and prompted federal law enforcement officials to name a crackdown on violent crime in cities seeing spikes in his honor.
Powell supported Operation LeGend, which some decried as unnecessary and heavy-handed.
More than 200 federal agents from multiple law enforcement entities assisted in more than 500 arrests that led to more than 125 federal charges as part of Operation LeGend in Kansas City, according to the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri.
The Department of Justice announced that most federal agents who came to Kansas City had returned to their home jurisdictions by mid-September.
Ellis pleaded not guilty to all four charges last month. His next scheduled court appearance is April 9, 2021, for a pre-trial conference in Jackson County Circuit Court.
Frank Clark, a defensive end for the Super Bowl champion Chiefs, paid for LeGend’s funeral.
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For jurisdictions that utilize the Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers Tips Hotline, anonymous tips can be made by calling 816-474-TIPS (8477), submitting the tip online or through the free mobile app at P3Tips.com.
Annual homicide details and data for the Kansas City area are available through the 41 Action News Homicide Tracker, which was launched in 2015. Read the 41 Action News Mug Shot Policy.
