Second suspect charged with murder in May shooting death of Atmore man

Second suspect charged with murder in May shooting death of Atmore man

A second suspect has been charged in a May shooting which left a 31-year-old Atmore man dead.

Atmore police said Thursday 42-year-old Wiley Tait Jr. had been taken into custody and charged with murder, as well as discharging a firearm into an occupied building.

On May 29, officers responded to a report of shots fired in the area of Carver Avenue and King Street in Atmore about 2:15 a.m. Officers arriving at the scene found Robert Starks with an apparent gunshot wound and he later died of his injuries.

A second victim, whose identity was not released, was also struck by gunfire and transported to a local trauma center for treatment.

A month later, 44-year-old Eric Mitchell of Atmore was arrested and charged with Starks’ murder. He was additionally charged with shooting into an occupied dwelling, domestic violence and discharging a firearm within city limits.

Atmore police Sgt. Darrell McMann said the shooting resulted from an argument between Tait, Mitchell and another man — an argument in which Starks was not involved.