Judge keeps $60K bond for Montgomery mass shooting suspect

Prosecutors sought a higher amount; city leaders called the release “a slap in the face.”

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A judge on Tuesday declined to increase a $60,000 bond for 19-year-old Javorick Whiting, charged with attempted murder in an Oct. 4 mass shooting in downtown Montgomery that left two people dead and 12 wounded. The ruling leaves Whiting free while his case moves forward and reignited public frustration over Alabama’s bail rules.

The decision caps weeks of tension after Whiting posted bond and left the Montgomery County Detention Facility in late October. Prosecutors had argued the original amount was too low for a shooting that erupted in a crowded nightlife district, while police and city officials urged lawmakers to close gaps in state law. The judge said the state did not present new facts beyond those considered at Whiting’s first appearance, and noted that Alabama’s current law does not allow judges to deny bail for attempted murder.

Police say gunfire broke out around 11:30 p.m. on Oct. 4 near Bibb and Commerce streets, just off Montgomery’s entertainment corridor, as rival groups exchanged shots in a dense crowd. Fourteen people were struck by bullets. Two victims — 43-year-old Shalanda Williams and 17-year-old Jeremiah Morris — died. Twelve others suffered injuries ranging from minor to life-threatening. Detectives described a chaotic scene framed by bars, restaurants and tourist landmarks, and said multiple shooters fired after an initial target was attacked. In the days that followed, investigators reviewed surveillance video and gathered shell casings while asking witnesses to come forward.

Whiting was arrested Oct. 16 on a single count of attempted murder. According to court filings, the person he is accused of shooting was last reported in critical condition. At a hearing this week, the judge rejected a request from the district attorney’s office to raise Whiting’s bond, finding insufficient grounds under case law and evidence offered. The judge also addressed a dispute in the state’s motion, clarifying that although Whiting was arrested with a Glock handgun fitted with an extended magazine, there was no “Glock switch” device attached. Prosecutors also told the court that Whiting fled the scene after the gunfire; defense arguments were not immediately available. The judge said no new information was presented that was not known when bond was first set.

Three other suspects — 19-year-old Dantavious McGhee, 21-year-old Kemontae Hood and a juvenile — remain jailed on capital murder and assault charges tied to the same shooting. Police have said at least seven of the wounded were under 20, with the youngest 16. Investigators recovered multiple weapons and indicated more arrests could follow as testing continues. The department has worked alongside the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI and U.S. Marshals during the probe.

The downtown violence unfolded hours after the Tuskegee–Morehouse football game brought thousands to the city’s core, heightening foot traffic near the Hank Williams and Rosa Parks museums. Montgomery saw a heavy police presence that weekend because of overlapping events, officials said, but the sudden exchange of fire in a crowd turned the district into a crime scene within seconds. In the immediate aftermath, Mayor Steven Reed vowed that people who opened fire in a crowd would be arrested and prosecuted. By Oct. 10, police had announced the arrest of a juvenile. On Oct. 13, officers said McGhee was in custody on capital charges. Whiting’s arrest followed on Oct. 16; he posted bond on Oct. 20.

Whiting’s release drew a public rebuke from Montgomery Police Chief James Graboys and Mayor Reed, who argued that Alabama’s bail rules do not match the stakes of crowd shootings. “Too often, violent crimes are committed by individuals who are already out on bond for other serious offenses,” Graboys said at a briefing with Reed after Whiting’s release. Reed called the $60,000 bail “a slap in the face to the victims” and urged lawmakers to revisit state law. The police chief has pressed for broader judicial discretion to hold suspects accused of violent felonies until trial, while emphasizing that the investigation is far from over.

Under Alabama’s Constitution, judges can deny bail for capital murder and a set list of violent crimes under a 2022 amendment known as Aniah’s Law. Attempted murder is not currently on that list. Lawmakers approved sending voters a proposed expansion to include attempts and conspiracies to commit murder; that measure is scheduled for a May 19 statewide vote. Until then, judges must set bond on attempted murder charges and can only adjust it based on new information or clear risks supported by the record. In Whiting’s case, the court said those thresholds were not met.

The district attorney’s office previously asked to raise Whiting’s bond, citing the severity of the shooting and details of his arrest, and sought to have him rearrested. After Tuesday’s ruling, the office did not immediately say whether it would appeal or pursue other options. Defense counsel for Whiting has not publicly commented. Records show that the attempted murder count is the only violent charge currently on Whiting’s docket; separate dockets for the other defendants remain in the capital division. Police say the broader case will stay open until every person who fired into the crowd, or aided those who did, is identified and charged.

Downtown business owners and workers have told officials they are worried about safety on busy weekends and special events. City leaders said they are reviewing camera coverage and lighting in the entertainment district and coordinating with state and federal partners on enforcement. Officials noted that two victims once listed in critical condition have improved, while others are still recovering. Family members of the deceased have described the losses as devastating; mourners have placed flowers near the scene and held vigils in recent weeks.

Whiting remains free on bond as detectives continue interviews, trace firearms and await lab results. McGhee, Hood and the juvenile suspect remain in custody on capital counts. The court has not set a trial date. The next widely watched milestone is the statewide vote on expanding Aniah’s Law on May 19, which could affect future cases but not retroactively change Whiting’s bond. Police say more investigative updates are expected in the coming weeks.

Author note: Last updated November 7, 2025.