Arraignment set for Pelham triple-murder suspect
Published 9:35 am Tuesday, September 25, 2012
By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor
A man charged with shooting and killing three men in a residence in Pelham’s Chandalar neighborhood is scheduled to appear for an arraignment hearing at the Shelby County Courthouse on Nov. 26.
Jon Staggs Jr., 20, of Pelham, was arrested by the Pelham Police Department on Sept. 9 and charged with three counts of capital murder and burglary after police said he shot and killed 19-year-old Simeon Gilmore, 22-year-old Joshua Smith and 22-year-old Casey Cumberland at Smith’s residence in the 2400 block of Chandabrook Drive in Pelham’s Chandalar subdivision.
Staggs has been charged with capital murder and first-degree burglary, and is being held in the Shelby County Jail without bond. He was indicted on the charges on Sept. 14, according to court documents.
Shelby County District Attorney Robby Owens said the capital murder charges came because two or more people died in the incident, and because Staggs also was charged with allegedly burglarizing Smith’s house during the incident.
During the arraignment hearing, Staggs and his attorney, Herbie Brewer, will have a chance to discuss the charges, and will have an opportunity to enter pleas on the charges.