Prosecutors revealed on Thursday that a Chicago man allegedly told his friends he was paid to kill a pregnant 18-year-old who served as a key witness in the murder trial of her cousin.

The shooting happened last September as Treja Kelley was walking down a sidewalk on the phone with her boyfriend alongside her friend, People reports. The 18-year-old was walking home after getting off the bus.

Kelley's friend, whose name was not released, said they were feet apart during the shooting. 

“I could see his face. There was no arguing. He shoots at her. … He shoots at me two times but I was already gone. I hid,” the friend said.

Kelley was shot five times after being approached by a gunman in a baby blue hoodie who Cook County prosecutors believe was hired to execute her after she identified her cousin's suspected killer, Deonte Davis.


During the court hearing, prosecutors said Kavarian Rogers received $5,000 to kill Kelley. Shortly after the shooting, Rogers posted pictures on Facebook of himself flashing $100 bills and showing off a new cellphone and expensive shoes.

Rogers reportedly told his acquaintances that he received the money from "nailing a girl who testified against somebody," according to ABC7. At the time of the shooting, he had been released on bond for an unrelated offense.

According to People, prosecutors revealed they had an audio recording of a phone call from an unidentified person in jail "discussing a female civilian witness" in their trial and how to prevent her from taking the stand again.


Rogers also allegedly admitted that he knew Kelley and said she had a bounty on her head, The Chicago Sun-Times reported

Three months prior to the fatal shooting of Kelley, she took the stand in the murder trial for her cousin, Christopher Fields, who was killed in 2016. Davis was subsequently charged with first-degree murder. 

The Chicago Sun-Times reports her family became fearful for her safety after the trial and would either drive her around or request she uses ride-sharing services.

Davis has not been charged in connection to Kelley's death, and his lawyer, Jennifer Blagg, said the allegations were "salacious."

Rogers has been charged in connection with Kelley's death. A judge declined his attorney's request that he receive bond to avoid contracting the coronavirus while in jail.