17-year-old killed in May 5 shooting, identified as suspect in March shooting on 10th Avenue

DECATUR, Ala. (WHNT) – The 17-year-old who arrived at Decatur-Morgan Hospital Friday with a gunshot wound has died and has been identified by police as a suspect in a fatal shooting on March 27.

According to the Decatur Police Department (DPD), on March 27, at approximately 2:16 p.m., officers responded to a reported shooting in the 900 block of 10th Avenue. Officers located one victim, a man later identified as 23-year-old Jared Bolden, who was suffering from gunshot wounds at the scene.

Bolden was taken to Decatur-Morgan Hospital, where he died from his injuries.

Investigators responded to conduct an investigation. DPD said during the investigation the suspect was identified as a 17-year-old boy who was never found by investigators.

On April 30, Bama Pawn in Decatur reported a burglary in which a number of weapons and other items were stolen. DPD investigators and members of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) began investigating the incident.

On May 3, DPD officers responded to Decatur Morgan Hospital after a male juvenile arrived at the hospital with an apparent gunshot wound. The DPD Violent Crimes Unit responded to the scene and determined the shooting occurred on 7th Street Southeast.

DPD said the victim, later identified as the 17-year-old suspect in the March shooting on 10th Avenue, was taken to Huntsville Hospital for treatment. On May 5, 2024, the teenager died from his injuries, according to the department.

A 14-year-old was named and arrested as a suspect in the May 3 shooting on 7th Street. They were originally charged with first-degree assault and receiving stolen property, but because the victim died, the assault charge was upgraded to manslaughter.

“It was determined that the vehicle in which the victim arrived at the hospital was reported stolen from the 1800 block of Beltline Road Southwest on February 3, 2024,” DPD said in a news release about the investigation.

The department confirmed that Kaleb Kirk and three juveniles owned the vehicle that was reported stolen. Investigators also believe this vehicle was involved in the Bama Pawn burglary.

Stolen weapons were also found at a home in southwest Decatur when police executed a search warrant, DPD added. All of the weapons found were confirmed to have been stolen from Bama Pawn.

Kirk is charged with first-degree receiving stolen property and second-degree receiving stolen property. He is being held in the Morgan County Jail on $7,500 bail.

According to DPD, the other two teens were charged with theft.

All three teens were taken to the Tennessee Valley Juvenile Detention Center in Tuscumbia, Alabama, according to the Morgan County Juvenile Probation Office.

Further investigation revealed that Victoria Thomas was also in possession of a stolen firearm. She is charged with second-degree receiving stolen property and was held in the Morgan County Jail on a $2,500 bond.

If you have any information about the stolen guns, please contact DPD at 256-341-4660.