Crime
21-year-old Jeremiah Matkins arrested in connection to deadly Twin Peaks shooting
An arrest has been made following a deadly shooting at the Twin Peaks restaurant in Huntsville on Saturday night, according to officials.
The Huntsville Police Department confirmed that the incident, which took place just after 9:45 p.m., involved an off-duty officer who was providing security at the venue.
Huntsville Police Chief Kirk Giles reported that two groups began arguing at the popular University Drive restaurant before shots were fired. Emergency services responded immediately after receiving a 911 call.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) has identified the suspect as 21-year-old Jeremiah Matkins of Huntsville.
According to officials, Matkins discharged a firearm, fatally wounding 23-year-old Ray’shun Markelle Bates of Decatur.
Matkins was subsequently arrested and charged with murder. He is currently being held at Madison County Jail on a $50,000 bond.
During the incident, the off-duty officer reportedly discharged his weapon; however, ALEA confirmed that no one was struck by the officer’s gunfire.
“During the altercation, some shots were exchanged,” Chief Giles stated. Witnesses at the scene recalled hearing four to five shots, with one victim appearing to be hit in the neck or upper chest.
Some attendees suggested that the argument may have stemmed from a college football game, although this has not been confirmed.
The Madison County Coroner, Dr. Tyler Berryhill, later confirmed that Bates had succumbed to his injuries on Sunday. An autopsy is scheduled for later this week in Huntsville.
Three additional people sustained injuries in the altercation and are still under evaluation.
The investigation has been handed over to ALEA’s State Bureau of Investigation for further examination.
Crime
34-year-old Augusta Fireman Spencer Johnson charged in accidental shooting of his 3-year-old son in Harlem
Johnson, a decorated firefighter from Augusta, was arrested on Friday.
A Columbia County father, Spencer Allen Johnson, 34, of Harlem, Georgia, has been charged with child cruelty after his 3-year-old son, Evan Johnson, accidentally shot himself in the shoulder with an unsecured firearm.
According to authorities, the incident occurred Thursday night when the child accessed an unsecured firearm in his father’s bedroom.
The young boy, left unsupervised, discharged the weapon, resulting in a gunshot wound to his shoulder. Fortunately, the child is expected to make a full recovery.
Johnson, a decorated firefighter from Augusta, was arrested on Friday.
He faces charges of child cruelty stemming from criminal negligence, which authorities allege caused “excessive physical pain” to his son through neglectful supervision. He is currently being held at the Columbia County Detention Center with bond set at $10,100.
The Harlem Police Department did not initially release information about the shooting. However, as rumors of the incident spread on social media, the situation was later confirmed by both WGAC’s Austin Rhodes and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office late Friday evening.
Early Saturday morning, Harlem Police Chief issued a statement on the department’s Facebook page, stating that the case remains under investigation as new details emerge.
The Chief’s statement suggests that the full circumstances surrounding the shooting are still being determined.
In his booking photo, Johnson is seen wearing an anti-suicide smock, a standard precautionary measure taken in some detention facilities.
The incident has sparked discussions about gun safety and parental responsibility. Authorities are expected to release further information as the investigation unfolds.
Meanwhile, the Columbia County community remains concerned about ensuring proper firearm storage to prevent similar tragedies.