Jurors will soon hear opening statements in fatal 2015 robbery

Khyree Thompson
Khyree Thompson
photo Khyree Thompson
photo Tabitha Garrison
photo Verronta Page

A jury will now hear the case of a 21-year-old man accused of participating in a fatal robbery in an East Ridge motel in 2015.

They were selected this morning in Hamilton County Criminal Court while Khyree Thompson sat beside his attorneys, dressed in a white dress shirt and slacks.

Police say Thompson and two other suspects, Tabitha Garrison, 23, and Verronta Page, 21, shot Reginald Ballard in February 2015 after he resisted when they tried to rob him.

Court records do not say who shot Ballard. But police said text messages showed communication between Garrison and Ballard leading up to the incident.

Garrison and Thompson are from Dayton, Tenn., archives show, while Page is from Pikeville. They all face charges of first-degree felony murder and attempted especially aggravated robbery.

So far today, prosecutors have read Thompson's indictment to jurors. When they return from lunch at 1:30 p.m., attorneys will launch into opening statements.

Page and Garrison, who are both in custody in Hamilton County, are scheduled to next appear Nov. 28 before Poole.

They are both on the state's witness list, records show, though it's unclear whether they will actually testify.

In August, prosecutors moved to "sever" Page and Garrison from Thompson's case. That means they will be tried separately from the 21-year-old.

This is a developing story. Check back later for more updates.

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