In the early hours of September 8, 2018, in Birmingham, Alabama, 21-year-old Marqueze Green's life was cut short by gunfire. He was discovered in a vehicle, having sustained a gunshot wound to the back, and was rushed to a local hospital. Despite medical efforts, he succumbed to his injuries shortly after his arrival.
The investigation into the shooting led authorities to identify a suspect, Terry Lee Skanes.
Skanes, who was also 21 at the time, was subsequently arrested and charged with capital murder in connection with Green's death. Investigators believed the shooting was not a random act of violence, but rather that Green and another individual in the car with him were specifically targeted. The second person in the vehicle was wounded in the arm but survived the attack.
The case against Skanes, however, faced a significant setback when it was time for the trial in June 2021. The prosecution's case relied heavily on the testimony of two eyewitnesses. When both witnesses failed to appear in court to testify, the state was left without its key evidence. One of the absent individuals was considered the state's primary witness, and their refusal to cooperate proved detrimental to the case.
As a direct result of the witnesses' failure to appear, the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office was unable to proceed with the prosecution of Terry Lee Skanes. Consequently, the capital murder and attempted murder charges against him were dismissed. Skanes was then released from the Jefferson County Jail. The dismissal was made without prejudice, which leaves the possibility for charges to be refiled in the future should new evidence or witnesses come to light.
