Infignos Media - Auburn shooter to appear in court Thursday

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Auburn shooter to appear in court Thursday

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Desmonte Leonard, the man accused of killing three people and injuring three others near Auburn University, will be arraigned Thursday at the Lee County Detention Facility. He has been charged with three counts of capital murder and two counts of first-degree assault.

Desmonte Leonard turned himself in to authorities after a three-day manhunt. Leonard, 22, is accused of killing three people at an off-campus party near Auburn University. Leonard, 22, is at the Montgomery County Detention Facility in Montgomery, AL, after he turned himself in to U.S. Marshals Tuesday night. The arrest was the culmination of a three-day manhunt. "He was very cooperative when he turned himself in," Auburn Police Chief Tommy Dawson stated. "Very cooperative and he actually offered an apology for what he did. He told investigators he was sorry." Dawson added that the apology didn't amount to a confession. Montgomery attorney Susan James helped facilitate his surrender. She said Leonard likely turned himself in because he was tired of running from police. "I think he wanted somebody to tell him what to do," she said. The search for Leonard included an eight-hour raid on a home in east Montgomery on Monday night. Officers used tear gas to try to flush him out, and infrared technology to locate him after tips to the U.S. Marshals and two 911 callers indicated he may have been in the house. Despite the manpower and tactical efforts, officers left the home empty-handed. The shootings took place June 9 at the University Heights apartment complex, just 1 1/2 miles from Auburn University. Shots erupted at a party near the complex's clubhouse around 10 p.m. The shooting left three wounded and three dead, including two former Auburn football players. "Thank you to the parents of these victims. I know your young men won't be coming home, but hopefully this arrest will give you some closure," Dawson said last night. "We'll never forget the victims in this case and we'll never forget what happened Saturday night." Former Auburn offensive lineman Ed Christian, 20, and fullback LaDarious Phillips, 20, were both shot to death. Christian had been playing with the team, but left because of injury. He was found dead at the scene. Phillips was pronounced dead at the East Alabama Medical Center. Auburn resident DeMario Pitts, 20, also was killed. Another player set to join the team's offensive line, 20-year-old Eric Mack, was among the injured, although he is expected to survive.

Xavier Moss, 19, was treated and released from the East Alabama Medical Center. John Robertson, 20, is still struggling for life at the UAB Medical Center with critical injuries. "It was a fight that obviously someone got out of hand and shot and killed three people and critically injured another," Dawson said Sunday. Police said they have a possible motive, but would not discuss the details of the case. A witness to the shooting stated that the fight started over a woman.

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Keywords: Auburn, Desmonte Leonard, arraigned, Lee County Detention Center, Montgomery,

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