Family identifies boy, 9, shot and killed in Montgomery

MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) - Family members confirmed Wednesday that 9-year-old Jamel Fuller is the boy who was killed in a shooting that occurred Monday on Corral Lane. Fuller's aunts, Tasha Palmer and Ashley Fuller, also confirmed the 11-year-old being charged with reckless murder and second-degree assault in connection with the incident is Fuller's older brother.

[MORE: 11-year-old suspect in Montgomery child's death known to law enforcement, DA says]

"This is a very sad situation," Palmer said. "We've dealt with deaths in the family but not so young. This is very hard for us to try to deal with knowing he was only nine years old, and he was a child. He was a sweet little boy."

Ashley Fuller, sister to the mother of both the victim and the suspect, confirmed she and Palmer are speaking on behalf of the victim's mother and other family members. She said her sister is struggling to balance the loss of one child while dealing with another child being charged for the death.

"It's very hurtful," Fuller said. "We're all taking this very hard because it's senseless."

Previously, Montgomery Police Department Capt. Regina Duckett said a "responsible teenager was present but not an adult."

Palmer confirmed that teenager is 17-year-old Alexis Bracy. Bracy said both the victim and the suspect are her younger brothers. She confirmed
it was a 16-year-old male, unrelated to the family, who brought the gun to the home on Coral Lane.

Bracy added was a friend of hers who had spent the night at the Coral Lane house and she knew he had a gun but did not expect him to make it available to either of the boys. She said she saw him hand the gun to the 11-year-old and witnessed him "accidentally" firing it.

The 16-year-old, who Bracy said brought the gun into the home, also suffered non-life-threatening injuries from the incident. Bracy said after the gun was fired, the 16-year-old took it and ran down the street to a nearby convenience store where he called an ambulance. That was the last Bracy said she saw of the weapon. Police have not yet been able to locate the weapon.

Despite Bracy saying she watched her 11-year-old brother "accidentally" shoot Fuller, the victim's aunts said they do not believe that could have happened.

"I don't think his 11-year-old brother did this," Palmer said. "I really don't. He just wouldn't."

They also said they believe the teenager who they were told brought the gun into the home should be held responsible for the incident.

"I don't think he should have had a gun in this residence or around children," Palmer said. "In fact, I don't think a 16-year-old should have a gun. There's nothing out here that requires a 16-year-old to have a gun."

Fuller said her sister is still in denial about what has happened. She said she still speaks about her son like he is alive.

"He died in his home where he was supposed to be safe," Fuller said. "He didn't die in these streets. He died in this house. If you have a son or a brother, who is underage with a gun, check them. Do not let them be in your house with kids."

Palmer and Fuller said the funeral service for Jamel Fuller will be held on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Maggie Street Baptist Church.

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