After searching for the suspect in the Auburn University shooting that left three people dead, the suspect peacefully turned himself in at an Alabama courthouse, Fox News is reporting. The suspect, Desmonte Leonard, is being held in a Montgomery jail after he surrendered to a U.S. Marshal.
Leonard was on the run since the shooting occurred on Saturday night. Authorities are saying that he opened fire at a pool party after a fight over a woman broke out. His surrender comes after people who knew him gave misinformation to the police, who narrowly missed catching him at a Montgomery house they searched for nine hours.
Investigators said they think the pressure of being on the run had gotten to Leonard. A Montgomery defense attorney, Susan James, said she helped set up the surrender after his family reached out to her for help.
The 22-year-old Leonard is charged with three counts of capital murder. He’s also accused of wounding three more people. Two of the murdered victims were former Auburn football players.
Auburn Police Chief Tommy Dawson announced Leonard’s arrest last night at a press conference. He said that the suspect will be moved to Opelika near the university for his first court appearance, which will either be today or tomorrow.
Written by: Karen Benardello
