Teen charged in 64-year-old Montgomery woman’s death; police chief calls killing ‘unfathomable’
A Montgomery teen has been charged in the shooting death of a 64-year-old woman at her home.
Montgomery police Chief Darryl J. Albert held a rare Sunday morning press conference to announce that Jamorian J’Quan Bell, 18, is charged with capital murder in the slaying of Stephanie Stone.
Jail records indicate the deadly shooting happened during a robbery.
The chief called the crime unfathomable and said it rocked the community.
“By all accounts, the victim had no issues with anyone and was simply enjoying life,’’ Albert said.
Few details about the crime have been released. Maj. Saba Coleman previously said police and fire medics were called to the 3200 block of Gatsby Lane Thursday on a call of a person shot.
Stone, who lived on Gatsby Lane, was pronounced dead on the scene.
Stone was the front desk receptionist at Alabama Cancer Care of Montgomery.
“Ms. Stephanie was one of the most friendly and welcoming people on our team,’’ coworkers wrote in a Facebook post, “and always had something kind to say when you passed by her desk.”
“She truly cared for our patients and left everyone she met with a smile.”
Bell, who is already awaiting trial for being in possession of a stolen car late last year, was booked into the Montgomery County Detention Facility at 8:43 p.m. Saturday, jail records show. He is being held without bond.
Albert said following Stone’s murder, he deployed the Homicide Unit, the Gang Unit, the Narcotics Unit and the SWAT team with specific instructions. “And they delivered,” he said.
The chief said investigators recovered a large amount of evidence linked to the crime. They also used the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) which, he said, “directly tied that weapon to that crime.”
Montgomery has had six homicides so far this year. Of those, three have been cleared by arrest or a warrant.
The city ended 2022 with 62 homicides, 41 of which were solved. Those 62 homicides were a 19 percent decrease from the 77 homicides recorded in 2021.
“We will do everything in our power to solve those crimes,’’ Albert said. “And to those who choose to offend and victimize, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, we’re here and we’re coming. “