Charge added in shootout

Published 12:00 am Friday, May 28, 2004

Police filed another charge of shooting into an occupied building Thursday against the two suspects arrested in the Broad Street shootout.

Stray bullets from the Wednesday afternoon shooting spree hit two buildings, The Selma Times-Journal and the Pilcher-McBryde drugstore, resulting in two felony charges against the suspects.

According to police reports, 19-year-old Jerron Stallworth and 17-year-old Corey Cooper exchanged gunfire with two other suspects while driving a white, 4-door Chevrolet Caprice. The other suspects, driving a gold Chevrolet Caprice with maroon stripes on the trunk and a maroon air scoop on the hood, allegedly returned fire.

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The white Caprice turned down Alabama Avenue. Selma Detective Mamie Hale was close to the scene and provided descriptions of the vehicles. Officer Willie Felder and Officer Carlos Jones stopped the vehicle on the corner of First Avenue and Lauderdale Street.

Brandon Lewis, an 18-year-old passenger, was injured. Lewis was transported to Vaughan Regional Memorial where he was treated for a gunshot wound to the calf.

A stray bullet entered the second story window of The Selma Times-Journal and embedded into a wall. On Thursday, it was discovered that three bullets hit Pilcher-McBryde.

According to Capt. Anita Barlow, acting Selma Police Chief, two suspects in the gold car are known and police are currently investigating the whereabouts of both of them.

“We do have some names,” Barlow said, “but we’re not willing to put them out yet.”

Barlow, as senior officer, is acting chief in the absence of Chief Robert Green – who is attending a conference.

According to a press release, a preliminary investigation indicated that the parties knew each other.

Barlow said at a press briefing yesterday that the motive was a long standing grudge between the two parties.

“It’s a long term issue that’s been happening for year,” Barlow said. “It was not just a random shooting.”

Both Stallworth and Cooper are currently being held in the Dallas County Jail until a bond hearing can be convened.

The two are expected to appear in Judge Nathaniel Walker’s courtroom today, to determine the bond if any.

Police are still looking for the gold and maroon Caprice. Anyone with information concerning the whereabouts of the vehicle is asked to contact the police department at 874-6611.