On Friday, days before A.C. James’ trial was to begin, Allen County prosecutors filed a murder charge against him.

James, 38, of the 1700 block of Illinois Street, was originally charged with aggravated battery and criminal recklessness in connection with the February 2012 shooting death of Kyree Ellis.

Ellis and two other men were riding together in a vehicle near the intersection of East Paulding Road and Lafayette Street. Someone in another vehicle fired a shot at the vehicle in which Ellis was riding, striking Ellis. He later died at a Fort Wayne hospital.

According to court documents, Ellis and the two men found a cellphone at a gas station and left with it. James contacted them, asking them to return it, and one of the men with Ellis demanded a “finder’s fee.” James followed them from the gas station in his vehicle, firing on them, court records said.

James is set to stand trial Tuesday in Allen Superior Court.