By Associated Press
Wetumpka AL – Three Prattville High School students and a Montgomery teenager accused of fatally shooting an innocent bystander had been arguing with other boys over girls, not school pride, authorities said.
The Elmore County Sheriff's Office initially said the accused teens had an exchange with Wetumpka High School students over which school has the better football team.
Ramonda Mitchell, 35, died outside his home after he was shot about 4:30 a.m. Saturday in the Crenshaw community, west of Wetumpka.
"He heard shooting and ran," said Labron Luster, the fiance of Mitchell's mother, Brenda Bennett. "He was trying to get away."
Charged in Mitchell's death are James Gray, 19, of Montgomery, and Justin Edwards, Greg Hall and Eric Hardison, all 18, of Prattville. They are being held in the Elmore County Jail under bonds of $500,000 each.
Franklin said the dispute began Friday night at an Elmore County back-to-school party at the National Guard Armory in Wetumpka.
Two of the Prattville boys had been invited to attend the party.
Houston said fighting broke out between the boys after girls complimented the Prattville teens on their dreadlocks.
The Prattville boys left to get reinforcements and guns then went to Crenshaw, where one of the girls at the party lived, according to Franklin. The four suspects were arrested by Millbrook police on Alabama 14 between Wetumpka and Prattville.
Prattville police increased security at the high school Monday morning.
___
Information from: Montgomery Advertiser, http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com