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Arrest Made After Selma Church Shooting, Alabama Voter Registration

Oasis Tabernacle Church
Alaina Denean Deshazo
/
Selma Times-Journal / AP
The Oasis Tabernacle Church in Selma, Ala.

Selma police have arrested a man after three people were shot in Selma’s Oasis Tabernacle Church yesterday.

26 year old James Junior Minter is being held without bond in the Dallas County Jail. He’s accused of shooting his former girlfriend, their 1-month-old son, and the church pastor during services yesterday. Authorities believe Minter was most likely upset about a recent breakup and visitation issues with his son.

The 24-year-old woman and her 1-month-old baby were both rushed to Birmingham for medical treatment. Both are currently in stable condition.

Minter has been charged with three counts of attempted murder. A preliminary court hearing is scheduled for this afternoon at the Dallas County Courthouse.

Tomorrow is National Voter Registration Day.

As fall draws closer, people all around Alabama are signing up to vote. More and more so are doing so online. Voters can download the registration form instead of going to an office.

Alabama’s Secretary of State John Merrill says there are a number of requirements you must fulfill in order to cast a ballot.

“In order to be registered to vote, you have to have your identification to show where you are actually living, you must be a citizen of the United States, you must be 18 years old, and you cannot have been convicted of a disqualifying felony.”

All citizens that meet those requirements are highly encouraged to register to vote this month.

The Alabama Crimson Tide found themselves considerably lower in the polls after Saturday night’s loss to Ole Miss.

Alabama fell from #2 to #12 in the AP poll, and Ole Miss jumped 12 spots from 15th to 3rd. The Rebels beat Alabama 43 to 37 despite losing in time of possession, total yardage and first downs.

Alabama head coach Nick Saban says the difference in the game was turnovers.

“We’ve outgained them 2 to 1 and played almost twice as many plays, and didn’t finish drives… Turnovers just kill you. I don’t know if there’s anybody that we can beat if we’re going to give away 31 points. I really don’t.”

Alabama turned the ball over five times in that game, including three interceptions and two fumbled kickoff returns.

Auburn fell out of the AP Top 25 altogether after their 45 to 21 loss to LSU. The Tigers will take on Mississippi State on Saturday. Alabama will have a chance to retool against the University of Louisiana – Monroe.

The city of Montgomery is beginning to equip its police force with body cameras.

The cameras were deployed to nearly 50 officers last week, and Montgomery Police Chief Ernest Finley says they hope to have 300 officers wearing cameras by October 1.

Chief Finley says dashboard cameras in patrol cars have been extremely useful to Montgomery police in the past. He says the mobility and versatility of body cameras will allow the police force to be more transparent.

Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange says the cameras help tell the true story, in the event of complaints against a police officer.

Montgomery police officers will be required to turn on the body cameras whenever they interact with someone outside their patrol car.

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