Montgomery, AL (Sports Network) - Authorities surrounded a house Monday night
where a person resembling the suspect in the shooting deaths of two former
Auburn football players over the weekend was believed to be holed up in an
attic.
The suspect, Desmonte D. Leonard, 22, is accused of shooting six people near
the Auburn campus on Saturday night, killing three.
Montgomery mayor Todd Strange said authorities had responded to a call that
Leonard might be in the house after receiving an earlier call that a person
resembling him was in the area.
Strange said officials had independent confirmation that Leonard was in the
house, though he couldn't "unequivocally" say it was him and said there had
been no contact.
Tear gas had been deployed and people in the neighborhood in east Montgomery
were being asked to remain in their homes. Some had been evacuated, Strange
said.
"It's a waiting game," the mayor stated. "It would be very difficult for us to
go in, but if we have to we will."
Police Sgt. Regina Duckett said they were trying to get the suspect out of the
house as safely as possible.
The FBI and U.S. Marshals were among the law enforcement on the scene.
Former players Edward Christian and LaDarious Phillips were among the three
killed in the shooting while current offensive lineman Eric Mack was wounded
and is expected to fully recover.
The Sports Network