Assault, shooting at same apartment

A Clanton apartment was the scene of an assault and a shooting against two different victims in early April.

Cornelius Wilkes, 20, of Clanton was arrested April 1 and charged with attempted murder, two counts of first-degree assault, two counts of attempted first-degree assault, discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling and two counts of reckless endangerment after two incidents at his apartment less than one hour apart, Clanton Police Department Sgt. Cameron Bates said.

Wilkes allegedly beat a man unconscious about 8 p.m. on April 1 after a heated conversation among acquaintances in Wilkes’ residence at Trilliam Apartments off Highway 31 in south Clanton.

The victim was transported to UAB Hospital, Bates said.

About 30 minutes later, before law enforcement officers had even responded to Wilkes’ residence following the assault, the suspect committed another violent crime.

Wilkes allegedly shot his roommate twice as the roommate entered the residence, Bates said.

One of the bullets exited the victim, traveled through a wall separating Wilkes’ apartment from an adjoining apartment and headboard next door, where it flew over an unsuspecting man sleeping in the bed.

The shot, which came from a .380-caliber handgun, entering the apartment next door led to the charges of reckless endangerment and discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling, Bates said. Also, a relative of the shooting victim was present at the scene, leading to the other charge of reckless endangerment.

Wilkes has told authorities that he fired shots because he feared the person entering his apartment was the victim of the beating returning to reciprocate. Others close to the situation have disputed that claim, Bates said.

Wilkes was being held in Chilton County Jail with bonds totaling $111,500.

Bates said 15-20 residents of the apartment complex attended a meeting April 3 where Clanton Police detailed the situation.

“We assured them that this is an isolated incident,” Bates said. “I believe everyone there is satisfied with the results.”

Wallace recovers from surgery

State Rep. Kurt Wallace recovered from an emergency surgery on April 2 after being treated for a ruptured colon.

Wallace was unable to travel to Montgomery to meet with the Legislature’s session.

Wallace later received a standing ovation when he made his return to the House of Representative chambers on April 18, being helped by his father, Aubrey Wallace.

12-year-old dies from aneurysm

A 12-year-old seventh grader at Jemison Middle School died April 15 from a ruptured brain aneurysm, according to police and school officials.

Christoper Rico was admitted to Children’s Hospital in Birmingham on April 12, after Jemison Rescue responded to his family’s residence at 9:26 p.m., according to a press release from Jemison Police Chief Shane Fulmer.

The boy died about 2:30 p.m. April 15, according to the release.

Chilton County Schools Superintendent Dave Hayden and Coroner Randy Yeargan confirmed Rico died of an apparent ruptured brain aneurysm. Hayden, Yeargan and Fulmer all said the death was not the result of a physical altercation or any other incident at school, which had been speculated about online.

The JPD release reads:

“When this tragic incident occurred, we conducted a thorough death investigation, and we are very confident that no foul play was involved while at school or at the child’s home that contributed to his death. There is no evidence at this time that would lead us to believe that this death was caused by anything other than natural causes. We have been in constant contact with the medical personnel at Children’s Hospital who treated the patient, the Department of Forensic Sciences, the Chilton County Coroner’s Office, the District Attorney’s Office, family members, adults and other students who had contact with the child during school hours and until he arrived at his home on [April 12]. We have concluded our investigation, and based on the facts, we have found no evidence that any type of physical altercation occurred that would have been a contributing factor to his death.”

Yeargan and Hayden offered accounts similar to Fulmer’s.

“He had health problems and he did not die from being beaten,” Yeargan said.

Fulmer also offered sympathy for Rico’s family in his release.

“This is a very tragic loss for this family, and we offer our condolences to them. The family has heard many rumors about their child since this terrible incident, and those rumors are simply not true. We would ask that the family be respected as they mourn and deal with this tragic loss.”

Students at Jemison Middle School later said their final goodbyes to Rico April 19 during a balloon release ceremony.

Teachers encouraged students to write messages to Rico. The messages were tied to balloons, which were released outside the school.