On the evening of January 26, 2022, Justin Battiste, a 34-year-old male, was shot and killed in the parking lot of Hart's Fried Chicken on South Wilson Avenue in Prichard, a city within the Mobile metropolitan area. Initial reports from investigators suggested that the motive for the shooting was an apparent robbery. Battiste, who had just recently proposed, was described by his family as a hardworking and loving man.
His death left his family, including his uncles Gerald and Patrick Battiste, heartbroken and searching for answers.
Further investigation into the shooting, which was captured on surveillance video, led to the arrests of two suspects, identified as Leland and Morrissette. During a subsequent court hearing, more intricate details of the tragic event came to light. Testimony revealed that Justin Battiste was shot four times during the encounter but was able to return fire before succumbing to his injuries.
The narrative of a simple robbery became more complex as investigators testified that there were indications of a drug-related transaction. Both suspects, Leland and Morrissette, admitted to investigators that they had taken pills prior to the shooting. Morrissette’s defense attorney argued for a lesser degree of culpability for his client, suggesting that others involved bore more responsibility for the fatal outcome. Despite the new information that came to light during the hearing, the district attorney's office maintained that regardless of any alleged illegal activity, Justin Battiste was a victim who did not deserve to be gunned down.
