Birmingham, AL – An arrest has been made in the shooting death of 24-year-old Sherri Williams, who was accidentally gunned down in the doorway of her apartment Monday afternoon as she held her newborn son.
As previously reported by The Inquisitr , the shooting happened just before 1 pm in the Birmingham neighborhood of Gate City after an altercation between two men at a nearby grocery store escalated to gunfire. One of the arguing participants fled, and the other pursued, firing his gun while in chase.
Williams, who has two other children, was fatally hit in the chest by what police believe was a stray bullet intended for someone else. The victim collapsed onto a nearby couch, still clutching her 10-day-old son in her arms. Williams was pronounced dead at the scene, dying from the single gunshot wound, and the infant was found to be unharmed.
The woman’s 6-year-old daughter was in school and her 4-year-old son was home at the time of the shooting. Williams’ mother, Brenda, who suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, was on another floor of the apartment. She was asleep and unaware of the events until a neighbor rushed into the home. Brenda states she heard her daughter cry out for her . No one else was injured.
Police requested assistance from the public for information leading to the identification and arrest of the gunman.
ABC News reports the perpetrator responsible for the shooting surrendered to Birmingham Police on Tuesday evening. Now 20-year-old Corderious Domini McClellan will be charged with capital murder for Williams’ death. He is currently being held in the Jefferson County jail without bond.
Police have not shared additional details as to the circumstances of the argument between McClellan and his unnamed associate.
The law defines the act of capital murder in several scenarios, the majority of which involve the use of a deadly weapon while in the commission of another crime like kidnapping, robbery, or assault that results in a death. In this case, Alabama penal code, title 13A, chapter 5, section 40 subset 16 could apply as it classifies a capital murder as one committed by or through the use of a deadly weapon fired or otherwise used from outside a dwelling while the victim is in a dwelling.
If found guilty of murder, McClellan could face 10 to 99 years or essentially life in prison. If he does indeed face charges and is found guilty of capital murder, McClellan could face life without parole or a possible death sentence as Alabama utilizes capital punishment via lethal injection. Prior to 2002 the state used the electric chair, but those on death row can still be electrocuted if the prisoner opts for it in lieu of injection.
Do you think McClellan should face life in prison or the death penalty for accidentally shooting Williams?
[Image via McClellan mug shot and Williams family photo]