The mother of one of the victims in a double-shooting said she was glad the accused shooter turned himself in to police Tuesday but that it won't right the harm done to her son, who suffered a gunshot wound to the head.
Stanley Ray Davis Jr., 33, of 707 Third Ave. S.E., faces two charges of first-degree assault in the shooting of Keith Pendergrass, 20, and Bradley Jones, 19, during a fight early Saturday in the 400 block of Third Avenue Southwest.
"I'm glad they got him," said Audrey Pendergrass. "He turned himself in, I think, to make himself look good, but that isn't going to help him because he did what he did. ... Keith may never have a good life anymore. I was looking forward to him getting married, having kids and having a good life, but this may make it so he can't ever have a good life."
Keith Pendergrass remained in Huntsville Hospital's neurological intensive care unit Tuesday afternoon. A hospital spokeswoman said his condition had been upgraded to fair. He had been listed as critical since the shooting.
Jones, who was shot in the abdomen, was released from the hospital Monday.
Audrey Pendergrass said her son began to speak after being taken off a respirator, though he cannot hold a conversation or respond to questions.
"I think he's going to come out of it, but I know he's never going to see out of his right eye and he may not see out of his left eye. We're just hoping and praying that the Lord will fix it," Pendergrass said.
Davis called police to arrange his surrender.
"I talked to his family first," said Officer Juan Penuelas. "Then he called me and wanted to turn himself in."
Penuelas said he met Davis and took him into custody at Riverside Bonding Co. on East Moulton Street at about 11:48 a.m.
Investigators said they are seeking another man, Travis Tidwell, 19, who was also involved in the fight, for questioning.
A fight between the four men outside a house shortly before 1:30 a.m. Saturday led to the shooting, after which Davis left the scene in a pickup, investigators said.
According to a police report on the incident, a compact .22-caliber rifle was used.
"He was bigger, and he had to use a gun on Keith?" Audrey Pendergrass said.
"He should have been able to walk off without doing that. Everybody gets mad and gets in arguments, but it doesn't mean they have to try and kill somebody."
Davis was apparently still in police custody late Tuesday. His bail on the charges was set at $100,000.
Copyright 2011 - The Decatur Daily, Ala.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
