FROM CHIEF P.K. JOHNSON
MILLBROOK POLICE DEPARTMENT
The Photo above is Young’s drivers license photo, and not his official mugshot, as it was not immediately available.
On February 10, 2021, Millbrook police responded to the 2400 block of Main Street with regard to a civil disturbance at a local business. Officers made contact with multiple individuals, who have been engaged in an ongoing dispute.
As officers were attempting to defuse the situation and conduct interviews with the involved parties, additional people attempted to become involved. As officers were dispersing those not directly involved, an individual travelling southbound on Main Street in a vehicle discharged multiple rounds from a firearm in the direction of an individual leaving the scene.
Officers immediately pursued the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop on the Alabama River Parkway, just off Highway 143 South. The driver was taken into custody without incident. The driver, later identified as Carlos Young, a 25-year-old Millbrook resident, was initially taken into custody on an outstanding Failure to Appear warrant held by the Millbrook Police Department.
During the ensuing investigation Millbrook investigators determined that there was probable cause to believe that the suspect in custody did, in fact, fire the shots from his vehicle. Officers were able to locate a firearm believed to have been used in the offense between the scene and the location of the traffic stop. It was also discovered that one of the rounds discharged struck a vehicle parked at a near-by business.
Pursuant to the initial investigation Mr. Young was placed under arrest, being charged with Discharging a Firearm into an Unoccupied Vehicle, Reckless Endangerment and Violation of License to Carry a Pistol. Young was processed and transported to the Elmore County Jail, where he will be held without bond until warrants are obtained and served.
Young will still face the charge of Failure to Appear in Millbrook Municipal Court upon his release from his current charges.
We are extremely fortunate that no one was killed or injured during this incident. The offender fired multiple rounds from a moving vehicle in an attempt to shoot an individual involved in this ongoing dispute. It appears that no one was injured as a result but during our investigation our officers did locate a vehicle parked at an adjacent business that was struck by one of the rounds fired by the offender. There are businesses and a residential area directly in line of the shots fired during this incident. This could have been a tragedy.
The people involved in the dispute that preceded this incident have been at odds on and off since before I became a police officer here in Millbrook and I just entered my 25th year. I’m reasonably sure that some of these younger folks don’t even know why they’re at odds.
That said, this type of senseless violence won’t be tolerated. Our police officers and investigators would not stop until we had done everything they could to make an arrest in this case. All charges in this case were initiated by our officers based upon what they observed and evidence collected after the offense(s) occurred.
As usual when this type of violence occurs, there are rumors and concerns that there will be retaliation, as well as claims that the police aren’t doing anything. I think there’s a young man sitting in the Elmore County Jail that may have a different perspective right now. This case remains under investigation and it is entirely possible that there will be additional charges against the suspected offender in this case. I understand that parties involved in the altercation that preceded this offense may be signing warrants against others involved in the original disturbance. If that occurs we will most certainly serve those warrants in an expeditious manner, in hopes that they may be able to resolve their dispute in a court room, not on our streets.
We will be conducting extra patrols in the impacted areas and there will be no tolerance for any continued violence of any kind.
I want to thank our officers and investigators that were involved in this case today. Their quick actions, dedication and professionalism displayed today most likely saved lives. They did an outstanding job and I am proud to work alongside these men and women, as they protect and serve our citizens each day.
