Prosecutors to seek death penalty in slaying of Selma teen
Witnesses: Assailant demanded victim's cellphone
SELMA | Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for one of two teenagers charged in the slaying of a Selma High School student who was killed in what authorities described as a holdup over a cellphone.
Dallas County prosecutors said they will pursue capital punishment for 18-year-old Larry Hunter Jr., who is charged with killing Alexis Hunter, 18. The two aren’t related but knew each other, authorities said.
A second teenager, 16-year-old John Jones, also was charged with capital murder and will be tried as an adult, police said.
The Selma Times-Journal reported that evidence during a hearing indicated Jones was the suspected gunman, but he is too young to be put to death under a Supreme Court decision on capital punishment for juveniles.
Hunter was charged with capital murder because he was allegedly involved, Dallas County District Attorney Michael Jackson said in an interview.
“They were working together. It was an accomplice thing,” he said.
A court-appointed lawyer for Larry Hunter filed documents Tuesday asking a court for money to seek expert assistance with the case. Court records did not show whether Jones has a lawyer.
Hunter was shot in the head Saturday. The shooter allegedly opened fire after asking for her cellphone as she walked by with friends.
During the hearing, Selma police Sgt. Kendall Thomas said he found Alexis Hunter lying on the curb with her legs in the street. Witnesses identified Jones as the shooter, he testified.
According to Thomas, Larry Hunter quoted Jones as saying: “I got to get this money. I’m broke. I need some money. The next person that comes through I got to get it.”
Witnesses varied on details of the conversation between Jones and the girls, but Jones reportedly pulled a gun from his waistband and fired one shot, striking Alexis Hunter in the head after asking for her phone.
Hunter allegedly chased other girls for their cellphones after the shooting, Jackson said.
A preliminary hearing is set for Jan. 30.