MOULTON, Ala. — Three juveniles are in custody following a series of incidents in Lawrence County, including two drive-by shootings and a high-speed pursuit involving a stolen vehicle.
Officials in Lawrence County say the incidents began on November 17, when the sheriff's office responded to a drive-by shooting around 9 p.m. in the 24000 block of County Road 460. A vehicle there was struck by gunfire, though no injuries were reported.
Two days later, another drive-by shooting was reported near the same location. This time, a house was hit by gunfire. A witness to the shooting followed the suspect vehicle as it fled, but the suspects spotted the follower and reportedly fired at the witness before escaping.
The situation escalated on Thanksgiving Day, when the Decatur Police Department issued a "Be On the Lookout" (BOLO) for a stolen Cadillac believed to be heading toward Moulton. Minutes after that notice, a Lawrence County deputy spotted the vehicle on Highway 24 near Lawrence County Road 319. The vehicle failed to yield, leading to a chase, which when the stolen Cadillac collided with an SUV at the intersection of 6th Avenue and Moulton Street in Decatur.
The occupants of the Cadillac, three juveniles ranging in age from 13 to 17, fled on foot but were quickly apprehended. The occupants of the SUV were transported to a local hospital with injuries.
The juveniles were arrested and charged with multiple offenses, including their involvement in the drive-by shootings, stealing the vehicle, and leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in physical injuries.
Decatur Police say the Morgan County Juvenile Probation Office was notified about the arrests, and the teens were released into the custody of their parents/guardians.
