CASSOPOLIS — Legal proceedings have again been delayed in the case of a Dowagiac man who is accused of shooting into a crowd, killing one in late July.

Wednesday, Cass County Judge Susan Dobrich adjourned the preliminary exam of Rolandis Raisean Russell, 24, of the 200 block of Pokagon Street in Dowagiac. The hearing was delayed so that in testimony from a forensic pathologist can be included.

Russell is charged with first-degree murder in connection to the shooting death of Jimmy Fabian Wesaw, 42, of Dowagiac. He is additionally charged with felony firearm charges and a charge of assault with intent to murder. The charges stem from a shooting that took place the morning of July 29 outside of Beeson Street Bar in downtown Dowagiac. According to police, they were called to the scene for a large fight. As police were leaving the station to respond to the call, they heard several shots ring out in the area. When officers arrived on scene, they found Wesaw dead of a gunshot wound.

Russell is alleged to have been involved in the initial fight, before leaving the scene to retrieve and load an AK-47. When Russell returned the scene, he began firing the weapon into the crowd, hitting and killing Wesaw, according to police.

Wednesday’s scheduled preliminary exam was set to determine probable cause on the charges against Russell.

During the hearing, Assistant Prosecutor Tiffiny Vohwinkle called witness Jason Rotkowske, a detective with the city of Dowagiac who had witnessed the scene of the crime, to testify to the extent of Wesaw’s injuries and whether or not they were consistent with bullet wounds he had seen in the past. Vohwinkle cited legal precedent that allowed her to use Rotkowske as a witness in this manner and not call on the forensic pathologist that performed Wesaw’s autopsy as a witness.

However, Russell’s defense attorney, Tat Parish, objected to Rotkowske’s testimony on the grounds that Rotkowske does not have the credentials of an expert medical witness.

“There are things that can be disclosed by a proper autopsy such as how far a gun was [from] a person, which can have a bearing on self-defense issues,” Parish said.

Ultimately, Judge Dobrich ruled to “reluctantly” adjourn the hearing until the forensic pathologist could be present for testimony.

The preliminary exam has been rescheduled for 8:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 21.