Man arrested for DUI and charged with murder following hit-and-run incident in Hueytown

A Fairfield man, Walter Lee Ellison, has been charged with murder in a hit-and-run case in Hueytown, Alabama. Ellison was initially arrested for DUI after being observed driving on the wrong side of the road by an HPD officer. Fresh damage to the front of his car was noticed, leading officers to search the area for a potential match to the damage, but nothing was found.
The following morning, officers responded to reports of a person down near another intersection and found 18-year-old Gabriel Demorris Edwards dead off the roadway. Evidence suggested that Edwards had been walking north on the road when he was struck by a vehicle also traveling north at around 11:30 p.m. the previous day. Car parts found near Edwards were matched to the car from Ellison’s arrest that same day.
After a review by the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, Ellison was charged with murder, felony leaving the scene of an accident with injuries, and driving under the influence in relation to Edwards’ death. He is currently being held in the Hueytown City Jail and awaits transfer to the Jefferson County Jail, where he will be held without bond.
The incident involving Ellison and Edwards occurred when Ellison was driving under the influence and hit Edwards on the road, resulting in the young man’s death. Ellison was arrested after a traffic stop for DUI, and evidence linking him to the scene where Edwards was found deceased led to his murder charge. The hit-and-run case has shocked the local community and raised concerns about the dangers of driving under the influence.
The Hueytown Police Department responded to reports of a person down near an intersection, where they discovered Edwards’ body. The evidence gathered from the scene, including car parts that matched Ellison’s vehicle, led to the charges against him. The tragic incident serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of reckless driving and the importance of holding individuals accountable for their actions.
Ellison’s arrest and subsequent murder charge highlight the seriousness of hit-and-run cases and the legal consequences that individuals may face. The community mourns the loss of Edwards, a young man whose life was cut short due to a preventable incident caused by a driver under the influence. The legal process will determine Ellison’s fate, but the impact of the tragedy on those involved will be long-lasting.