Montgomery, Alabama

From the Montgomery Advertiser of March 27, 2006

Kickball argument leads to weekend shootings

Montgomery police believe that a kickball game among children escalated into two days of gunfire at a Montgomery apartment complex over the weekend.

The shootings left one person dead and two others injured after police were called to 1627 Northgate Drive Saturday and Sunday. The apartment building is located inside Crown Point Town Homes off of Lower Wetumpka Road.

On Saturday at approximately 7:15 p.m. police responded to a call from the residence in reference to a shooting.

“Upon arrival officers made contact with a male, Ross Pettiway, 48, of 1620 Sheffield Road,” said Capt. Huey Thornton, public information officer for the Montgomery Police Department.

Pettiway told police that while visiting his cousin at the Northgate Drive home, he was shot by an unknown person while he sat on the couch. Three shots were fired through the closed front door.

Pettiway was transported to Baptist Medical Center South where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

The next day, according to a police report, officers returned to the scene at 4:16 p.m. in connection with two people being shot.

Upon their arrival, officers located Jeffery Lyndell Burnett, 21, of 1611 Northgate Drive and Crystal Shephard, 24, of 1627 Northgate Drive. Both suffered from gunshot wounds.

“Burnett received a gunshot wound to the upper torso. He was transported to Jackson Hospital,” Thornton said. “He was pronounced dead at 4:47 p.m.”

Shephard was also transported to Jackson Hospital, where she was treated and released for three non-life threatening gunshot wounds to her lower back, right arm and left forearm.

“Apparently, all of these shootings stemmed from an incident involving children who were apparently arguing over a kickball game,” Thornton said. “The adults became involved and the incident escalated into the shootings that occurred Saturday and Sunday.”

After the shooting a 16-year-old male was taken into custody for questioning, but was released.

“We were unable to establish enough probably cause to charge the 16 year old, because there’s a good possibility the 16 year old fired in self-defense,” Thornton said.

Thornton said a grand jury will decide if charges will be brought against the teen.

“Burnett fired into the residence on Saturday and was back at the residence on Sunday, when he was shot by the 16 year old,” Thornton said.

Witnesses said Burnett was with two other unknown males when he fired at the home on Saturday and Sunday. Police said several different types of shell casings were found at the scene.

“At this time we haven’t identified these subjects,” Thornton said.