Preliminary hearing set for Iron Bowl party murder suspect
Published 8:56 am Thursday, December 12, 2013
By CASSANDRA MICKENS / Associate Editor
HOOVER — A preliminary hearing has been set for the woman charged with shooting and killing another woman after an Iron Bowl party last month.
Adrian Laroze Briskey, 28, of Birmingham, is scheduled to appear before Shelby County Circuit Judge Dan Reeves Jan. 8 at 8:30 a.m. at the Shelby County Courthouse in Columbiana, according to court documents. Briskey is charged with murder in the death of Michelle Shepherd, 36, also of Birmingham. Briskey was released from the Shelby County Jail Dec. 2 after posting a $75,000 bond.
Briskey allegedly shot Shepherd during and Iron Bowl party at about 7 p.m. Nov. 30 at the Summerchase at Riverchase apartments. The two women, both Alabama fans who did not know each other prior to the party, got into an argument after the game ended, according to Hoover police.
Shepherd’s sister, Neketa Shepherd, said Briskey was mad that Shepherd was joking after the stunning Alabama loss and didn’t appear to be a true Crimson Tide fan.
Investigators the argument moved outdoors and a physical altercation ensued. It was then Briskey allegedly shot Shepherd with a small caliber handgun. Shepherd, a mother of three, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Hoover police are working to determine if the shooting was in fact tied to the Alabama-Auburn rivalry game.
Since the incident, Calera native and former UAB football player Byron De’Vinner has organized a toy and gift card drive for the Shepherd children, ages 8, 6 and 4. A Facebook page titled “A Post Iron Bowl Christmas for Cameron, Christian and Destiny” has been set up to publicize the drive.
Toys and gift cards can be donated at D1, a sports training facility at 1651 Independence Court in Homewood, through Dec. 14, when the gifts will be presented to Neketa Shepherd and the children.
“No football game should cost anyone to have their life taken. More importantly, no kids should be without their mother especially right before Christmas,” the Facebook page reads.