The shooting incident that led to the release of the suspect occurred just after 11:30 p.m., following the Morehouse-Tuskegee Classic college football game in Montgomery, Alabama. The attack left two people dead and injured 12 others, marking a grim chapter for the community and prompting an outpouring of public concern. The Montgomery Police Chief, Jim Graboys, noted that only one of the 14 victims was the intended target, and the rest of the casualties resulted from the chaos that followed the initial gunfire. Graboys’s statements highlight the complex nature of the crime, which escalated rapidly due to the involvement of multiple shooters, emphasizing the unpredictable and dangerous scenarios that can arise in such incidents.
The suspect, Javorick Whiting, 19, was arrested on October 16 and charged with attempted murder related to the incident on October 4. A judge set his bond at $60,000, which he was able to post the following day through a bail bond company. Despite this, the community’s outrage led the Montgomery County district attorney to file a motion to increase Whiting’s bond, arguing that the current amount is insufficient to protect the public. This move underscores the deepening public sentiment against the release of individuals accused of violent crimes, especially in light of the tragic outcomes of such incidents.
The situation has also reignited discussions around bail laws, with local leaders and officials emphasizing the need for reform. Republican Governor Kay Ivey expressed her frustration in a Facebook post, stating that the release of the suspect highlights the legal loopholes that her Safe Alabama package aimed to close. This legislation, known as Aniah’s Law, was passed in 2019 in honor of Aniah Blanchard, who was murdered by someone with a history of violent offenses and bail. The law allows judges and prosecutors to request and deny bail for crimes such as kidnapping, murder, rape, and aggravated child abuse. Recently, lawmakers have proposed expanding Aniah’s Law to include attempted murder, further reflecting the community’s desire for stricter measures to ensure public safety.