Text messages show how 5 men allegedly ambushed, killed Birmingham man: ‘I’ll set the (house) on fire’
Three shooters who allegedly killed a Birmingham man during a robbery waited for him for nearly two hours before gunning him down and stealing his backpack, according to text messages between five men charged in the crime.
Those charged in the Sept. 22 slaying of 32-year-old Jamarcus McIntyre are: Damien McDaniel, a 22-year-old Fairfield man accused of killing 11 people and wounding 29 others between July and September; Larry Rollins, 32; Ny’Quan Lollar, 22; Demarco Beck Jr., 29; and Zachary Holmes, 31.
Jefferson County prosecutors contend in court documents that McDaniel and Lollar were among three shooters who opened fire on McIntyre in the horrific ambush that was captured on home surveillance video.
Investigators have not yet been able to identify the third shooter.
Prosecutors say McDaniel, Lollar and the third man sat in a parked vehicle in front of the house in the 700 block of 81st Place South that Sunday night, waiting to kill Mcintyre, who they had targeted.
Holmes, according to court records, was inside the house with McIntyre feeding information to the other suspects, including Rollins and Beck who were not at the actual scene.
The shooters remained in the car until McIntrye exited the house and was immediately killed.
Multiple, and simultaneous, conversations were taking place in the hours leading up to McIntyre’s slaying.
Holmes texted Beck the exact address and described McIntyre. “White tee black shirt black book bag black hat only mf with a hat on.”
Rollins then relayed the address to McDaniel, accompanied by two photos of McIntyre.
McDaniel, at one point, told Rollins that a neighbor kept going outside and looking.
“Where bout? Send a pic” Rollins texted McDaniel, who sent Rollins and Beck a photo of the house across the street from where the killing took place.
Shortly before 9 p.m., McDaniel, in a text to Beck and Rollins said, “I’m finna run in det hoe.”
He was told the doors were locked and replied, “I got sum to open em.” He also texted, “I’ll set the bitch on fire bet they kum out den.”
He then texted Beck and Rollins, “I’m jst talk shit doe I’m swatting.’”
Rollins “hearted” McDaniel’s text and Beck “laughed” at the text.
Records also show multiple phone and Facetime calls – both incoming and outgoing – logged on Rollins’ phone leading up to the 9:18 p.m. shooting.
All five suspects, as well as sixth man who is a co-defendant of McDaniel’s in two other murders, appeared in court Tuesday to be arraigned on their charges.
All six defendants in the multiple cases – linked by being co-defendants of McDaniel in one or more murders – were brought into Circuit Judge Shanta Craig Owens courtroom one by one and wore bulletproof vests.
More than a half dozen deputies for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Response Team provided extra security in the courtroom, and the judge required all courtroom observers – whether family of the victims or defendants – to show a driver’s license before entering.
Dozens of family members attended Tuesday’s proceedings, and many had to wait out in the hall because of capacity limits in the courtroom.
McDaniel is charged in the two mass shootings at Trendsetters lounge and Hush lounge.
Four people were killed and 17 injured in the Hush massacre, and four killed and 10 wounded in the Hush shooting.
In addition to the two mass shootings and McIntyre’s deaths, McDaniel is also charged in the Sept. 19 killing of Diontrante Tinae Brown, a 35-year-old mother who police say was an innocent bystander shot to death inside 604 Bar and Lounge on Ninth Street North, and the Aug. 13 killing of 61-year-old Charlie Moore, also an untended target.
Woods is charged in the Trendsetters killings and Moore’s slaying.
Another man, 41-year-old Charles Derius Nance, is charged with capital murder in Moore’s slaying, accused of providing McDaniel with the intended victim or victim’s names and address. Authorities have not disclosed the identity of the intended victim.
All of the cases are being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorneys Joe Roberts, Julie McMakin and Elise Driskell. Deputy District Attorney Shawn Allen was also in court Tuesday to read the indictments against all of the suspects during their arraignments.
McDaniel’s arraignment was postponed because it was determined that his attorneys had a conflict representing him because of a different case with another client.
Owens said she would appoint McDaniel new attorneys.
Holmes, Woods, Beck and Lollar pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Rollins also pleaded not guilty and sought bond, which the judge denied.
One of Rollins’ attorneys, John Lentine, said he would appeal that ruling.
Lentine also questioned the heavy security in the courtroom, contending it was prejudicial against his client, and later said he’d never seen anything like it.
All of the suspects remain held without bond.
Trial dates have not been set.