Adolescent arrested for capital murder after intense 2-hour standoff in Sylacauga

Jamir De’Jawn “JD” Russ, a 16-year-old capital murder suspect, was arrested after a two-hour standoff in Sylacauga. He is charged with two counts of capital murder in the February slaying of Temekia Fluker, who was killed in a shooting from a vehicle and shooting into an occupied residence incident. Fluker was not the intended target and she was found dead inside her home, having been shot at least once. Multiple agencies including the Talladega County Drug Task Force, the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force, the Talladega County Sheriff’s Office, and Sylacauga police, were involved in the arrest.

The standoff in which Russ was taken into custody was described as “tense,” but he surrendered peacefully after two hours. The community was thanked for its patience during the standoff, and Chief Kelley Johnson expressed gratitude for all the agencies involved in the arrest. The incident marked the second murder in two years involving a member of the Fluker family at the same home. In an earlier case, 22-year-old Nartavius Cortez Fluker-Smith, Fluker’s brother, was shot and killed while sitting in his vehicle in front of the residence, and 19-year-old Sheridan Rashon Clark is awaiting trial for his murder.

Johnson stated that Fluker’s murder deeply saddened and shocked the community, emphasizing that her death was a tragedy that affected everyone. The police department has been working tirelessly to investigate the case, taking statements from witnesses and collecting evidence from the crime scene. The warrants issued against Russ were related to the shooting incident resulting in Fluker’s death and Johnson mentioned that several rounds had been fired into the home, ultimately leading to Fluker being struck. The chief highlighted the impact of Fluker’s death on the community and expressed the department’s commitment to bringing justice for her.

Russ is facing charges of capital murder for the slaying of Fluker at 306 South Main Avenue. Fluker’s death marked the second murder associated with the Fluker family at or near the same residence. The shooting was a result of gunfire from a vehicle and into an occupied residence incident, and Fluker was found dead inside her home. The police arrived at the scene to discover her body and proceeded to gather evidence and statements from witnesses throughout the night. The intended target of the shooting was not Fluker, as authorities noted that she was a victim of the incident.

The arrest of Russ came following an intense standoff which concluded with his peaceful surrender after two hours. Johnson expressed gratitude to the agencies involved in the arrest and thanked the community for their patience during the process. The Fluker family has now endured two tragic murders, leaving the community shocked and saddened. The police department is committed to seeking justice for Fluker and has been diligently investigating the case, working to bring closure to the community affected by these senseless acts of violence.