City official: Five arrested in downtown mass shooting; official urges review of bond practices
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Summary
A city official announced five arrests in a downtown mass shooting, criticized a judge's decision to deny a district attorney's bond increase request for a suspect released on bond, and highlighted reported declines in violent and overall crime while urging continued law-enforcement cooperation and community vigilance.
A city official announced that five people have been arrested in connection with a downtown mass shooting and said investigators are still pursuing additional suspects and accomplices.
"To date, 5 people have been arrested in connection with the downtown mass shooting," the city official said, adding that three suspects are charged with capital murder and with assault on 12 other victims and that one suspect, Javorick Whiting, was charged with attempted murder and released on bond.
The official criticized a judge’s decision to deny the district attorney's request to increase that bond, saying the lack of prior criminal history should not be the sole factor in bail determinations for violent incidents that endanger crowds. "When you have a shooting such as this, that endangers not only 1 person's life but the lives of many other innocent civilians ... that calls into question a different approach," the official said, urging the community to raise the issue with the judicial branch.
The official also pledged continued investigative work and interagency cooperation, thanking the Montgomery Police Department, Chief Grabois, Sheriff Cunningham, the FBI, the ATF and the U.S. Marshals Service for around-the-clock efforts. "We're going to find each and every person who was affiliated with this mass shooting," the official said.
City leaders pointed to recent crime statistics as evidence of progress: "Violent crime is down nearly 24% ... nonviolent crime being down 12% and overall crime being down 14%." The official said robberies have fallen by more than 33% in the city.
The official credited those gains to law-enforcement work and community partnerships, while acknowledging any loss of life remains unacceptable. The office also highlighted recruitment gains at the Montgomery Police Department, saying pay increases and outreach have produced hundreds of applicants and an upcoming large recruit class.
The city official encouraged residents to provide anonymous tips to investigators and noted a $50,000 reward remains available in the case.
The briefing did not include a named prosecutor, judge, or other documents to corroborate the bond decision; the city official said the district attorney had requested an increased bond but that a judge had denied the request. No formal changes to bond policy were announced at the briefing.
