Police charge man in killing of Alabama student

Ricky Crooks

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- Investigators have charged a Moundville man with capital murder in the Sunday early morning shooting death of James Harry (Trey) Johnson III at the Sterling Crimson apartments.
Sheriff's deputies and Tuscaloosa County Metro Homicide Unit investigators, assisted by the Sheriff's Office aviation unit, arrested Ricky Crooks, 20, at his residence on Mink Slide Road after 1 p.m. today. Crooks was being held at the Tuscaloosa County Jail without bond.
Crooks was charged on Sunday with attempted murder for a shooting that occurred at a nearby convenience store at the intersection of Hargrove Road and 10th Avenue.
Authorities say that Crooks fired a gun at someone at a gas station. One bullet traveled several blocks and hit Johnson as he walked to visit a friend. Police say surveillance camera footage show Crooks going into a store where he fought with a 28-year-old man.
Investigators say the tape also shows how many shots were fired.

Trey Johnson

Tuscaloosa County Metro Homicide Unit commander Loyd Baker said  investigators have probable cause to believe that a shot fired by Crooks caused Johnson's death. A warrant was obtained by investigators after physical evidence, witness testimony and audio and video surveillance recordings were reviewed.
Johnson, a 25-year-old University of Alabama graduate student studying Operations Management, was struck by gunfire in the parking lot of the Sterling Crimson apartment complex after 2 a.m. Sunday morning and died shortly after arrival at DCH Regional Medical Center.
Baker said it appears Johnson was walking to a friend's apartment when he was shot.