Final suspects nabbed

Published 8:31 pm Thursday, May 27, 2010

ALBANY, Ga. — Two Selma men were arrested here without incident and charged with capital murder in the death of Rosjah J. Butler.

Michael Hunter and Johnny Dukes were arrested through joint efforts and assistance of the U.S. Marshal, Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force, the Selma Police Department Crime Response Team Unit and the Selma Police Department Criminal Investigations Unit.

Administrative Division commander Sgt. Doug Stewart said the suspects will be transported back to Selma, once necessary procedures are completed.

Email newsletter signup

Hunter and Dukes are the last two suspects in the shooting death of the 3-year-old Butler.

Brandon Lewis, 24, and Aaron Harris, 23, were bound over to a grand jury when it convenes again. The two are in the Dallas County Jail with no bond.

During a preliminary hearing last week, Detective Frederick Walker of the Selma Police Department testified he had taken a statement from Lewis shortly as the suspect’s arrest. The detective told the court Lewis said Harris, he, Dukes and Hunter were in a green Dodge Intrepid borrowed from Harris’ brother. They drove from GWC Homes to Church Street.

Walker said Lewis told investigators Duke pulled the weapon and began firing at the house at 1411 Church St.

A slug from a weapon pierced the wall of the house into Butler’s bedroom, where the toddler stood by the bed.

Butler suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the chest. He was pronounced dead at Vaughan Regional Medical Center.

Attorneys for Lewis and Harris have asked questions about what weapon the slug came from that killed Butler. The toddler’s uncle, Glenn Williams, was outside in front of the house during the shooting.

During the preliminary hearing, when asked if he had a weapon that night or saw who fired shots from the car, Williams took the Fifth Amendment’s protection against self-incrimination.

Williams testified he had stepped outside the house to the front to call a girl.