By Jeff Devine, Editor-in-Chief, Dale County Chronicle
OZARK—The charge against an Ozark man accused in the shooting of a 16-year-old boy has been upgraded from attempted murder to murder following the victim’s death, according to records from the Dale County Jail.
Lakevion Cerano Shider, 23, of Ozark, was initially arrested and charged with attempted murder after a June 8 shooting near the intersection of College Street and College Lane. Following the death of the victim, jail records were updated to reflect that Shider is being held on a murder charge.
The upgrade comes after the victim, who had been hospitalized in critical condition since the shooting, succumbed to his injuries and passed away on Wednesday, June 10, at 5:39 pm. The teen’s death was confirmed by Dale County Coroner John Cawley.
According to the Ozark Police Department, officers, investigators, and members of the Dale County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a firearm assault at approximately 8 p.m. on June 8. Upon arrival, first responders found the 16-year-old victim suffering from a gunshot wound in the roadway.
Ozark Fire and Rescue personnel transported the teen to a local hospital, where he was later airlifted to a trauma center in Mobile for advanced medical treatment. Despite extensive medical efforts, the victim died from his injuries.
Dale County Coroner John Cawley has also stated that an autopsy will be conducted by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences. Authorities have not publicly released the victim’s identity.
Investigators determined the shooting stemmed from a verbal altercation involving two individuals who were part of a larger gathering near College Street. According to law enforcement officials, the dispute escalated into violence, resulting in the victim being shot.
Police described the investigation as extensive, involving the execution of two search warrants, hours of crime scene processing, and the use of numerous investigative resources. Authorities ultimately identified Shider as a suspect, and he was arrested and booked into the Dale County Jail within mere hours.
The Chronicle reached out to OPD Captain Jerome Niles the day after the shooting to ask if he had any further comment in addition to the information we already obtained, and he chose to express gratitude for everyone involved.
“We are just very grateful for the support from all involved, including the media,” Niles said.
At the time of his arrest, Shider was initially booked into the Dale County Jail on an attempted murder charge. Following the victim’s death, that charge has now been elevated to murder, a decision that must be approved by the Dale County District Attorney’s Office.
The fatal shooting was one of two separate gun violence incidents investigated by Ozark Police on the evening of June 8. Authorities have stated the two cases are unrelated.
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional information may be released as it becomes available.
As with all criminal cases, the charge against Shider is an allegation. In our criminal justice system, all persons accused of crimes or any illegal behavior are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
