By Jeff Devine, Editor-in-Chief, Dale County Chronicle
OZARK — A 16-year-old boy who was critically wounded in a shooting Monday night in Ozark has died from his injuries, according to Dale County Coroner John Cawley.
The shooting occurred around 8 p.m. June 8 in the area of College Street and College Lane. Officers with the Ozark Police Department, along with investigators and deputies from the Dale County Sheriff’s Office, responded to reports of a firearm assault and found the teen suffering from a gunshot wound in the roadway.
Emergency personnel with Ozark Fire and Rescue transported the victim to a local hospital before he was airlifted to a trauma center in Mobile for advanced treatment. Despite medical efforts, the teen later succumbed to his injuries.
Cawley confirmed the death and said the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences will conduct an autopsy. Authorities have not publicly released the victim’s identity.
The death marks a tragic turn in a case that has deeply affected the Ozark community.
Following what authorities described as an intensive investigation, Ozark Police identified and arrested 23-year-old Lakevion Cerano Shider of Ozark, charging him with attempted murder in connection with the shooting.
According to investigators, the incident stemmed from a verbal confrontation between two individuals who were part of a larger gathering in the area. Authorities allege the dispute escalated, culminating in the victim being shot.
Police said investigators executed two search warrants, processed the crime scene for several hours, and utilized multiple investigative resources before identifying and apprehending the suspect.
Shider was booked into the Dale County Jail, where he remains in custody. With the victim’s death, prosecutors may review the case for possible additional or upgraded charges, although authorities have not announced any changes at this time.
The shooting was one of two separate gun violence incidents investigated in Ozark on Monday evening. Law enforcement officials have previously stated that the cases are unrelated.
The investigation remains ongoing.
