Auburn Shootings: Leonard turns himself in

Alleged Auburn gunman Desmonte Leonard has been charged for three capital murders and two accounts of assault after turning himself into a Montgomery, Al. courthouse earlier today, it has been reported.

In a press conference police authorities said that Leonard – who was wanted for gunning down three people at an apartment complex near Auburn – negotiated with US Marshal Baylor and turned himself in.

CBS tweeted at the time of his surrender: “CBS 8 NEWS BREAKING NEWS – Montgomery Co. Sheriff D.T. Marshall confirms to CBS 8 that Desmonte Leonard turned himself in to authorities”.

Leonard is alleged to have shot and killed three people (including two Auburn football players) and hurt three others after an argument at a pool party on Saturday when violently out of control was seen fleeing the scene of the shootings and is the No.1 suspect in the shootings.

Two men have also been charged with hindering the police’s search for him.

One of the men is Jeremy Thomas, who fled the scene with Leonard after the shooting, which saw Ladarious Phillips, Ed Christian and Demario Pitts die. Both Phillips and Christian were former players for the Auburn Tigers. Two of the three wounded have been thankfully released from hospital, although John Robertson still lies in hospital after a gunshot wound to the head.

The AJC notes that Thomas was free on bond awaiting a manslaughter trial for the shooting of 14-year old Takira Sada Gaston.

The other man is Gabriel Thomas, who  – according to the Chronicle – was charged “after allegedly having contact with Leonard after the shooting and providing false information to officers.”

Also, it emerged that there had been a shooting incident only last April at the apartments, although thankfully no-one was killed.