Man pleads not guilty in shooting death of Cinsere Ward

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - A man indicted in the shooting death of 23-year-old Cinsere Ward pleaded not guilty Friday in front of Judge Walmsley.

Elijah Roundtree, 18, was indicted on malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, obstruction, possession of marijuana more than an ounce and unlawful criminal gang activity in connection with Ward’s death in May 2024.

The indictment reveals another man was the target of the shooting, but Ward was caught in the crossfire. Ward was not affiliated with any gang.

Roundtree is reportedly part of the gang 2GB and was charged accordingly.

According to the indictment, Roundtree was unlawfully participating in gang activity at the time Ward was shot with the intent to increase his status and position in the gang.

2BG (also known as 2 Black Gang) is a local street gang operating in the Savannah, Georgia area.

The shooting

Savannah Police responded to a shooting near the intersection of Crane and West 56th Streets around 9:30 p.m. May 18, 2024.

Officers discovered Ward and a juvenile victim near the intersection of Montgomery and 56th Streets. Ward died from his injuries. The male juvenile was treated on scene and taken to the hospital.

Savannah Police arrested Roundtree Oct. 15 and charged him with homicide.

He was recently re-indicted on these murder charges and the gang charges were added.

Victim remembered

Ward’s father, Terrell Ward, said his son was a positive force to those around him.

“Cinsere was, every word, every essence of the word sincere,” Terrell Ward said.

Ward was a graduate of Windsor Forest High School and had attended Montreat College. His father said he had a bright future ahead of him.

“I spell his name with a C because that name means dedicated to change, to me. That’s my definition,” Terrell Ward said.

Ward was killed on his father’s birthday. He would have turned 24 about a month after his death.

See previous coverage with Ward’s father: www.wtoc.com/2024/05/31/father-shooting-victim-remembers-son-cinsere-ward/

“I want to be angry but my kid wasn’t an angry kid at all. Nobody I’ve talked to had anything negative to say about that kid,” Terrell Ward said.

Community response

Community activists marched in unity against gun violence two weeks after Ward’s death. The group met at the scene where Ward was killed.

“A young man was murdered and we want to send a message that we aren’t going to take that anymore,” said Rev. Alan Mainor, march organizer.

The march started on West 56th and Crane Streets and stopped in Ellis Square, the scene of a mass shooting where 11 people were injured weeks earlier.

“I want people to see, especially young people, that they have options, and violence isn’t an option - it’s a reaction and that often ends in dire consequence,” said Laureen Boyles, anti-gun violence advocate.

We will continue to follow this case as it moves through the court system.