WSFA 12 News Montgomery, AL |Montgomery Fatal Shooting Suspect Captured

Montgomery Fatal Shooting Suspect Captured

Pain and confusion choke the air surrounding yet another senseless slaying here in Montgomery.

Thomas Seawright, the victim's cousin, recalls, "I didn't see nothing. I just heard shots. That's all I heard... He took back running in the house. I ran in and that's when he was laying down with blood everywhere."

This time the victim was 19-year-old Marquis Seawright.  Witnesses say it all went down in a gun battle Seawright himself started with another man.  The argument was over a game craps. Sadly, Seawright bet his life.

Lt. Ronald Cook of the Montgomery Police Department says, "In my preliminary investigation, [Seawright] went and retrieved his shotgun and stared shooting in the direction the guy who he had gotten into an altercation with."

The other man fired back, striking Seawright once in the side, then drove away from the scene.

Major Kevin Murphy says, "There was a vehicle description given out over the radio from witnesses at the scene of a blue Ford Crown Victoria."

Police thought they had their suspects when a car fitting that description led officers on dangerous high speed chase through the city. The car slammed into a tree in a residential area near Ann Street.  The three men inside ran away, but didn't get very far.  After questioning, police concluded these three were not connected to the shooting. 

Around 6:30 Thursday evening, police found the shooter: 18-year-old DeAndre Stringer.  He was questioned and released.  Police consider the shooting self-defense and are not charging Stringer with anything.

The driver who led police on the high speed chase--  33-year-old Corey Pinkston-- is being held on several charges including traffic violations.

Reporter: Theo Travers