By Sharon Coolidge
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Anthony Rogers testified Thursday that the bullet that killed his girlfriend, Janeen Roseberry, was meant for him.

Rogers was driving his car in the West End on Jan. 6, with Roseberry sitting next to him in the front passenger seat, when shots rang out. A bullet pierced her shoulder and ripped through her heart, killing the 17-year-old mother of two.

Tyrone James, 19, is charged in her killing and on Monday withdrew a guilty plea as part of an agreement that would have reduced the murder charge to voluntary manslaughter in exchange for a 15-year prison sentence.

Now a Hamilton County Common Pleas jury is hearing the case. If convicted, James could face life in prison. Judge Beth Myers is presiding.

Rogers said he believes the bullet was meant for him because of an ongoing dispute. But when pressed for details by prosecutors Tuesday, Rogers would only say the "defendant'' shot Roseberry.

Rogers was driving east on Findlay Street about 2:20 p.m. when shots were fired at his car from Baymiller Street, police have said. One bullet grazed Rogers' baggy sweatshirt; another hit Roseberry.

Roseberry's daughter, who was 18 months old at the time, was in the back seat, but not hurt.

Rogers took Roseberry to the West End Health Clinic, just minutes away, but did not stay with her. He later returned and spoke to police officers called by the clinic.

James' defense attorney, Herbert Freeman, told the jury during opening statements that James fired the gun in self-defense.

Rogers and James had argued four days earlier, and when Rogers saw James on the street corner, he waved a gun as if he were going to shoot, Freeman said.

Police found a .357 Magnum revolver in Rogers' car, but it had not been fired, prosecutors said. Rogers said he got the gun after dropping Roseberry and her daughter off at the clinic.

"Anytime I need a gun I can go get one," Rogers said. "I thought I gotta' get a gun; somebody is trying to kill me."

Rogers, who was convicted in February on a charge of possession of cocaine and sentenced to six months in jail at the Hamilton County Justice Center, said his feud with James started over drugs.

E-mail scoolidge@enquirer.com