All articles tagged with #felony murder
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey commuted the death sentence of Charles ‘Sonny’ Burton to life without parole, citing it would be unjust to execute Burton while a co-defendant who actually fired the fatal shot faced a different sentence, in a 1991 AutoZone robbery tied to a killing.
Charles “Sonny” Burton, 75, on Alabama’s death row for capital felony murder tied to a 1991 AutoZone robbery in which the shooter killed a man, argues he did not kill anyone and is seeking clemency or a stay; advocates note the disparity of punishing a non-shooter and urge the governor or the Supreme Court to intervene, while Gov. Ivey has said there are no plans to grant clemency and several jurors and the victim’s daughter support mercy.
Alabama is set to execute Charles 'Sonny' Burton, a death-row inmate who did not kill anyone, under the felony murder rule tied to a 1991 AutoZone robbery in Talladega. Burton says he left the store before the fatal shooting by a accomplice; prosecutors argue he led the robbery. Despite pleas from the victim’s daughter and some jurors, Gov. Ivey has shown no sign of clemency. If carried out, the execution would use nitrogen gas, a method Alabama has employed since 2024. The case highlights concerns that felony murder can punish people who did not fire the fatal shot, a debate echoed in other cases as clemency remains rare.
Brandon Ortiz-Vite, an illegal immigrant, has been charged with felony murder, open murder, carjacking, carrying a concealed weapon, and felony firearm in the death of Ruby Garcia, whose body was found on a Grand Rapids highway. Ortiz-Vite admitted to shooting Garcia during an argument, leaving her on the freeway, and fleeing the scene. He had previously been deported but re-entered the U.S. without inspection. The case has sparked debate over immigration policies and border security.
Timothy John Kildee, 27, was arraigned from his hospital bed on 16 counts, including felony murder, in connection with the shooting death of his father. The charges also include carjacking, operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated causing serious injury, first-degree home invasion, and several firearm-related offenses.
Two individuals, Tyrone Williams and Ariel Curry, have been arrested and charged with felony murder in connection with the death of a 9-year-old girl in Mobile, Alabama. The arrests were made after law enforcement officers identified Williams and Curry as the individuals involved in the drive-by shooting that took place on December 5. They will also face charges of shooting into an occupied dwelling.
The Mobile Police Department (MPD) has arrested two suspects, Tyrone Williams and Ariel Curry, in connection with the shooting death of a 9-year-old girl on Rhett Drive. The suspects will be charged with felony murder and shooting into an occupied building for a separate incident on Racine Drive.
An 18-year-old suspect, Luis Cruz, has been identified and taken into custody for a road rage shooting in Lilburn, Georgia, which resulted in one fatality and one person being hospitalized. Cruz has a history of multiple arrests, including driving on an expired license, DUI, and street racing. He is now facing charges of felony murder and aggravated assault.
A 40-year-old Detroit mother has been charged with felony murder and child abuse in the drug-related death of her 4-year-old son. The boy went into cardiac arrest on April 10, 2022, and later died at a hospital. Fentanyl was found in his system, and the manner of death was not immediately determined. The mother called 911 on Friday and turned herself in to the Detroit police homicide section. She also faces a charge of delivery of a narcotic causing death.
A Detroit mother, Chavon Boone, has been charged with felony murder and child abuse after confessing to giving her 4-year-old son fentanyl, causing him to go into cardiac arrest and die over a year ago. Boone called 911 on May 19 and turned herself in, admitting to the crime. The child's father was in another room sleeping when he was awakened by Boone's screams and found the child unresponsive. The medical examiner found fentanyl in the child's system but the cause and manner of death was indeterminate at the time.
Casey White, the inmate who escaped from an Alabama jail with corrections officer Vicky White, pleaded guilty to first-degree escape in exchange for no prosecution for felony murder in Vicky's death. He is expected to receive a life sentence. Casey White's legal troubles are far from over as he was being held on a capital murder charge in connection with the 2015 killing of Connie Ridgeway. Casey and Vicky White fled from a detention facility in Lauderdale County and were captured 11 days later in Indiana. Casey White will not be prosecuted for felony murder in the officer's death.
An Alabama judge has reduced the sentence of LaKeith Smith, who was convicted of felony murder for the death of his friend during a burglary in 2015. Smith, who was 15 at the time, did not pull the trigger but was involved in the crime that led to the police response. His sentence was reduced from 55 to 30 years, including time served. Smith's attorney plans to appeal the conviction and sentence, citing ineffective counsel. The district attorney expressed disappointment that Smith did not take responsibility for his actions during the re-sentencing hearing.