Mocobizscene- Two Montgomery teenagers, who are facing charges in the shooting death of their 16-year-old friend, have been granted bond by a judge. The incident occurred when the group was purportedly attempting to shoot up a home.
Michael Anthony Cole Jr. disappeared on January 25th around 8:30 p.m. in the vicinity of Southmont Drive in Montgomery.Montgomery County Circuit Judge Brooke Reid set each of the teenagers a bond of $750,000 on Wednesday.The judge made their ruling after a bond hearing that took place earlier this week.
During the hearing, it was revealed that Jones, King-Sheppard, Cole, and two others had visited a residence on Gaston Avenue in Montgomery that night with the intention of firing shots into the home.
Jones and King-Sheppard initially misled officers by denying any knowledge of Michael’s death. However, they later provided statements confessing to the essential elements of the crime, as stated in the judge’s order.
During the trial, Detective A.C. Patterson provided testimony revealing that Jones admitted to masterminding the plan. According to Jones, the motive behind the shooting was retaliation for stolen guns from his home.
According to the judge’s order, testimony revealed that a tipster observed King-Sheppard spending several hours cleaning his vehicle in the rain on the day following Michael’s death.
Jones completed his high school education just last year. During his time in school, he actively participated in various sports such as football, basketball, and track. A noteworthy mention comes from the chaplain of the football team, who testified about Jones’ exceptional character. According to the chaplain, Jones consistently displayed qualities of love and demonstrated a strong desire to be a leader.
According to King-Sheppard’s attorney, he is a high school senior with an impressive GPA and a clean record. Aside from being a talented basketball player, he is also a valued member of the school basketball team. It’s worth noting that he had received offers to play collegiate basketball before his arrest.
According to Judge Reid’s order, bond can only be denied for a felony murder charge if there are no conditions that can reasonably ensure a defendant’s appearance for court proceedings or protect the safety of the community.
According to Reid’s findings, both teenage suspects have a robust support system and strong connections within the community, which led to the decision to grant them bond.
If the suspects are granted bond, they will be required to wear ankle monitors and follow a curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., as stated in court records. Furthermore, they are not allowed to possess weapons or engage in any further criminal activities.Jones and King-Sheppard are currently still in custody at the Montgomery County Detention Facility as of Wednesday afternoon.
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