In the late summer of 2017, the life of James W. Byrd Jr., a 36-year-old male from Anniston, Alabama, was tragically cut short. On August 14, he was fatally shot in an Anniston shopping center, a public space turned into a scene of violence. The incident left the community searching for answers and a suspect on the run.
The investigation into the death of James Byrd Jr. led authorities to a man named LeQuinton King. U.S.
Marshals later apprehended King, and he was subsequently charged with murder in connection with Byrd's death. Following his arrest, King was held at the Calhoun County Jail but was released in November 2017 after securing a $500,000 bond.
The story took a dramatic turn while King was out on bond. He was arrested again, this time in Mobile, Alabama, for a separate and unrelated slaying. Authorities in Mobile charged the then 22-year-old with murder in the fatal shooting of another man. This second arrest brought renewed attention to the case of James Byrd Jr., as it was revealed that King was out on bond for one murder when he allegedly committed another. Following this second charge, prosecutors in Calhoun County moved to have his bond in the Byrd case revoked.
