16-year-old Charged with Murder after West End Shootout
A 16-year-old has been charged with murder and three counts of attempted murder after a shootout left one dead in Tuscaloosa's West End Tuesday afternoon.
Investigators believe the teenager, Deramus Devalle Harris Jr., was riding down Fosters Ferry Road Tuesday with 22-year-old Darrieon Dees when they saw a group of other juveniles with whom Harris had problems and stopped the car on 24th Street.
Captain Kip Hart said Harris and Dees got out of the car, drew pistols and began firing at the group.
At least two of the other juveniles were also armed and returned fire, and Dees was struck and killed.
Hart said investigators believe Harris was the instigator of the violence and that the other juveniles were acting in self-defense, so police have charged Harris with murder for the death of Deramus Dees and one count of attempted murder for each of the three juveniles they allegedly fired on.
Two of the other participants were charged with illegally possessing a pistol, but not with any violent crimes.
Harris is being charged as an adult and was booked Wednesday in the Tuscaloosa County Jail, where his total bond was set at $230,000.