In the early hours of March 14, 2020, a dispute that began at the Host Sports Bar in Bay Minette, Alabama, tragically escalated, cutting short the life of 19-year-old Larry Darnell Smith Jr. Smith, a Black male, was a recent graduate of Baldwin County High School and a father.
The conflict spilled over to a Circle K gas station on US Highway 31 South. At approximately 2:03 AM, Bay Minette Police were called to the scene following reports of gunfire.
There they discovered Smith, who had sustained a fatal gunshot wound. His sister, Sharrikka Shawnta Smith, was also found at the location with a stab wound to her back and was subsequently transported to USA Medical Center for treatment.
Later that same morning, Alonzo Hale turned himself in to investigators and was arrested and charged with the murder of Larry Smith. In connection with the stabbing of Sharrikka Smith, authorities also arrested Tara Lavone Robinson, who was charged with first-degree assault.
Following his arrest, Hale was released on a $200,000 bond, a development that caused considerable distress to Smith's family. They voiced their concerns and frustrations with the judicial system, particularly the delay in bringing Hale's case before a grand jury. The District Attorney's Office attributed these delays to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. They also indicated that the charges against Hale could potentially be upgraded to capital murder by a grand jury, which would lead to the revocation of his bond.
