FROM CHIEF P.K. JOHNSON
MILLBROOK POLICE DEPARTMENT
On Thursday, March 23, 2023, Mose Abram, an 18-year-old Millbrook resident, was placed under arrest by Millbrook Police detectives, being charged with Murder and Discharging a Firearm into an Occupied Vehicle. Abram was transported to the Elmore County Jail, where he remains under no bond, pending warrants being obtained and served.
On Wednesday, March 22, 2023, Millbrook police responded to the 4100 block of Highway 14 with regard to a report of shots fired into a vehicle. Upon arriving on the scene, officers located the victim’s vehicle, which was parked near a business. The vehicle appeared to have be struck multiple times by bullets and was disabled. Officers discovered that one of the vehicle’s occupants was suffering from an apparent gunshot wound and was non-responsive. Millbrook fire-rescue units responded to the scene to render aid. The victim, later identified as Maurio D. Williams, a 16-year-old Montgomery resident, was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Millbrook paramedics treated the vehicles other two occupants, both being juveniles, at the scene. One of the subjects sustained injury to their eyes due to shattered glass. The juvenile was transported to Baptist South Emergency Room for treatment and evaluation. The scene was turned over to detectives with the Millbrook Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Unit.
We are still in the very preliminary stages of this investigation, so I am limited in the information that we are able to release at this time. Apparently, this incident stems from a prior ongoing dispute between two groups of people. According to statements given to our detectives, we had individuals in one vehicle following the other, words or gestures were exchanged and at some point multiple shots were fired into the victim’s vehicle, apparently striking Williams and causing injury to another occupant, due to flying glass.
It appears that the incident started on Highway 14, between Ingram Road and the Paige Hills Subdivision, with shots being fired in the area of Governors Drive. The victim vehicle fled the area, continuing to the 4100 block of Highway 14, where the vehicle became disabled.
Our detectives and patrol officers spent the remainder of the evening canvassing the area, in an attempt to identify the crime scene, identify and locate witnesses and any potential evidence related to this case. Our officers were able to locate what was later confirmed to be the suspect vehicle. The vehicle was impounded as physical evidence.
Pursuant to our preliminary investigation and after consulting with the Elmore County District Attorney’s Office, our detectives determined that there was probable cause to affect an arrest on Mr. Abram, for the charges of Murder and Discharging a Firearm into an Occupied Vehicle.
As I stated previously, we are in the preliminary stages of this case. We still have people that we need to interview with regard to this case. I would strongly encourage anyone that has any knowledge of the circumstances that led to this incident occurring, no matter if they were present, potentially involved, or may have witnessed or heard anything; to come forward and speak with our detectives. It is entirely possible that additional charges will be sought in this case, as we move forward with our investigation.
I want to commend the work done by our detectives and officers, both last night and today. I know a lot of man hours have gone into this case to this point. We intend to pursue every lead in this case. It deeply sickens me that our young people have so little value for human life today, and that so many people are willing to pick up a firearm and fire it indiscriminately, with no regard for human life. This incident occurred between Highway 14 and a densely populated residential area. Not only are we fortunate that the other two occupants in the victim’s vehicle were not killed, we are extremely fortunate that no other motorist or area residents were killed.
As we continue our investigation, I want to be clear to anyone, or any group of people, that may be considering any retaliatory act in response to last night’s incident; I have instructed our officers to provide extra patrols in certain areas. We will be conducting directed patrols and addressing any and all issues with proactive enforcement of all state laws and local ordinances. This type of senseless violence has no place in any community and will not be tolerated or go unaddressed in our City! That said, I call upon our community leaders, churches, parents and the community at large, to help us in addressing the issue of violence, particularly violence involving firearms. We must make our young people understand that this is not the way to resolve problems. This is not just an issue for law enforcement and the judicial system. This impacts everyone.
Anyone that has any information with regard to this case is encouraged to contact the Millbrook Police Department at (334)285-6832, or our Secret Witness Line at (334)285-8500.
