Faulkner Students Charged Murder After Attempted Robbery: Here’s The Break Down On Why
From Montgomery — we’re digging deeper into a story we brought you yesterday after three students were arrested and charged in the murder of a fellow student. This comes after Faulkner football player, Ryan Brooks was shot and killed when police say all four attempted to rob a Montgomery home. Faulkner University officials say they’ve learned the students may have been trying to steal illegal drugs from the home of Franklin Williams. The story has flooded social media sites with questions as to why the three Faulkner students, who tried to rob a house, have been charged with the murder of their fellow student — Ryan Brooks. So just hours after those students made their first court appearance, I sat down with Montgomery County District Attorney, Daryl Bailey, to explain the law and what could happen next in this case. Faulkner students Marshall Wall, Ronnie Williams and Tabias Russell — all 19-years-old — made their first appearance at the Montgomery County Courthouse today. It happened just one day after police charged them with the murder of Ryan Brooks. “I do not feel that it is over simply because there’s always rumors, theres always innuendos and we’re going to run everyone one of those to the ground,” Said Faulkner Police Chief, Tony Dean. Police say Brooks and the three other students were attempting to break into a home on Woodmere Boulevard Wednesday night, when the homeowner shot and killed Brooks in self-defense. But some ask why police are charging the rest of the students with murder? “If you are committing a felony that is clearly dangerous to human life and in the course of committing that felony, someone dies, you can be charged with murder,” Said Montgomery County District Attorney, Daryl Bailey. Under Alabama law, Attempted Robbery falls in the category, Bailey says, would endanger someone’s life. http://www.legislature.state.al.us/codeofalabama/1975/13A-6-2.htm He says the technical term is called Felony Murder, which means the defendant didn’t physically kill the person, but their poor choices did. Bailey says Felony Murder could see the same prison time as Murder — anywhere between 10 years to life in prison. “You better beware because you are responsible for the behavior of the co-defendant and you’re also responsible for whatever goes wrong during the course of committing that violent crime,” Said Bailey. But what rights does the homeowner have? They have every right according to the state’s Stand Your Ground or Castle Doctrine, which gives homeowners the right to protect themselves and their property. “If someone breaks into your house and you believe that your life is in danger, and many would just by the sheer fact that someone is breaking into your house, then you have the right to defend yourself if you believe your life is in danger,” Said Bailey. So what happens next? The students can request a preliminary hearing. Bailey says he believes this case will hold up in court. Alabama News Network asked Bailey if any of the four students were armed. Bailey chose not to comment pending the investigation. Wall, Williams and Russell are all in the Montgomery County jail on a $75,000 bond. Now because of this investigation, Faulkner University plans to make changes in their athletic policy from having random drug testing to a more rigorous policy. The university also plans to review its process of vetting prospective students and provide more information regarding illegal drugs. School officials say they’ll also implement a confidential process on reporting any suspicious activity.
