The Crenshaw County Courthouse was closed Thursday, Jan. 23, due to the lingering effects of Tuesday’s snow, but in spite of the closure, District Judge Jon M. Folmar presided over an “Aniah’s Law” pre-trial hearing for Jerrol Leon McLeod, 62, hearing charges related to a recent home invasion and hostage situation.

McLeod, with his attorney, William Rayborn, Jr., and Levi Nichols, assistant district attorney, appeared before Folmar in the pre-trial hearing to determine whether McLeod was eligible to bond out of jail. The defendant faced charges on three counts of attempted murder, burglary in the first degree and certain persons forbidden [to possess a weapon] for a standoff on Jan. 20 at a residence in the 3300 black of Campground Church Road near Luverne.

An advisory issued by the Sheriff’s office Monday morning asked area residents and travelers to avoid the area. Residents were advised to stay indoors until the situation was resolved. 

Around 11 a.m., ALEA Highway Patrol Division Troopers, Special Agents assigned to ALEA’s State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and members of ALEA’s SWAT Team responded to assist the Sheriff’s office with the situation.

During Thursday’s hearing, testimony from one witness, SBI Senior Investigator Adam Robinson described how McLeod, a resident of Luverne, had recently been evicted from the residence. McLeod allegedly arrived at the home on Jan. 20 armed with a shotgun loaded with slugs and made forcible entry by firing shots into the back door of the home. Robinson said evidence and video from the home supported the allegations against McLeod.

Robinson testified that upon entering the home, McLeod encountered the mother of one of the homeowners, in the hallway. She ran into the bedroom and heard shots fired in her direction. She then locked the door and hid in the bedroom closet. A hole in the bedroom door appeared to confirm Stephens’ account.

Neighbors drove to the residence and McLeod fired toward them before another neighbor returned fired with his AR rifle toward the front door in McLeod’s direction.

Multiple law enforcement agencies — ALEA, The Crenshaw County Sheriff’s Office, the Luverne Police Department (PD), Brantley PD, Greenville PD, the Pike County Sheriff’s Office, the Butler County Sheriff’s Office and the Covington County Sheriff’s Office — arrived on the scene to discover McLeod and Stevens barricaded inside the house.

Officers engaged McLeod in conversation, and he agreed to come out unarmed, Robinson testified. Instead, he exited the home holding the shotgun and had to be shot with bean bags and tackled for restraint.

“The suspect… ultimately exited the residence and was taken into custody,” said ALEA Lt. Jeremy Burkett. “No one was struck or injured.”

Robinson said McLeod confessed he had malicious intentions upon exiting the home. He was charged with attempted murder in Pike County on April 11, 1980 and convicted of the lesser charge of first-degree assault for shooting a woman with a shotgun. The earlier charge was considered by Folmar in regard to setting McLeod’s bond.

After the hearing, the court found evidence for probable cause that McLeod had committed the alleged crimes. Folmar ordered McLeod be held without bond for the burglary charge. He set bond at $250,000 for each of the three counts of attempted murder plus $50,000 for the charge of certain persons forbidden.

Crenshaw County Chief Deputy Chris Stewart said the agencies cooperated to secure the area and deescalate the situation.

“We are thankful to report that no injuries occurred, and the situation was resolved without further risk to public safety,” Stewart said.

Court records indicate that McLeod could face an additional charge of shooting into an occupied dwelling. Those charges are forthcoming.