FROM CHIEF P.K. JOHNSON
MILLBROOK POLICE DEPARTMENT
On Sunday, April 28, 2024, Millbrook police responded to a report of shots fired in the 3100 block of Sandtown Road. Prior to their arrival, responding officers were advised that the complainant/victim was reporting that rounds had struck her residence. Upon arrival officers were advised that two neighboring residences had been struck by projectiles. No one in either residence was injured as a result. Officers secured the scene but were unable to locate any possible suspects in the immediate area. The scene was turned over to detectives with the department’s Criminal Investigations Unit, who processed the scene and collected physical evidence.
This case is being given the upmost priority. This is a case of senseless gun violence, most probably resulting from “perceived retaliation” from a previous incident that occurred in the past. While we are extremely fortunate that no one was injured, as a result of this senseless act, absolutely nothing justifies this. At that time of morning, most people are asleep in their beds. Those bullets could have gone anywhere in either residence, both of which were occupied, one having a nine-year-old child present.
We are in the very early stages in this investigation, and I am not at liberty to discuss what evidence was recovered from the scene. That said, there was evidence that our detectives were able to locate and collect as physical evidence in this case. That evidence will be processed and hopefully assist our detectives in identifying a suspect in this case. Should a suspect be identified, they will face, at the very least, (2) counts of Discharging a Firearm in to an Occupied Dwelling.
In speaking with our detectives, I understand that there may be a witness or witnesses that have information pertinent to this case, but they are unwilling to cooperate with law enforcement due to fear of retaliation. To that, I say this; there is an individual or individuals walking our streets right now, who have demonstrated wanton disregard for human life, as demonstrated by their actions yesterday morning. What if it was your home or that of someone that you love that was targeted? But for the grace of the God, that could be your situation or someone that you love. I’d hate to know that someone got injured or worse and that I could have helped prevent that from occurring, or at least prevent the possibility of it happening to someone else.
I have directed our officers to conduct close patrols of this area, with orders to conduct enforcement details, addressing any suspicious activity or criminal violations observed. In short, that area is about to receive a lot of attention for the foreseeable future. I encourage the person(s) responsible to do the right thing, which is to surrender to law enforcement and face the consequences of their actions. We also encourage anyone that has any information related to this case to come forward and cooperate with law enforcement. This type of violence, particularly when multiple shots are fired, as are the circumstances in this particular case, could impact anyone in a given area. Bullets, once fired, don’t have anyone’s name on them. It’s wherever they wind up.
Our city is blessed, in that incidents like this are not a frequent or daily occurrence. For that we are extremely thankful. That said, unfortunately, no city is immune from violence or those who commit violent acts. The difference is in how the citizens in your community and how law enforcement responds when these senseless acts of violence occur. I can assure our citizens that our response will be proactive in nature. Our officers will be vigilant in patrolling the areas that these crimes have occurred in, with the proactive enforcement of any criminal violations that are observed. We simply ask that our citizens be active partners with us in reporting crimes observed and coming forward, if you have any pertinent information. This type of violence will not be tolerated in our city, nor will it go unaddressed.
