Stephanie McCray

Stephanie McCray, a 37-year-old Black woman from Daleville, Alabama, was fatally shot on the evening of Saturday, July 13, 2024. The shooting occurred in the drive-thru of a McDonald’s restaurant located near the main gate of Fort Novosel.

Stephanie was in her vehicle with her husband, 45-year-old Ricky McCray, in the passenger seat. Investigators later learned the couple had an on-and-off relationship. When Stephanie pulled up to the drive-thru window after placing her order, she made a desperate plea for help. She told a restaurant employee that the man in her car had a gun and asked them to call the police. Shortly after she spoke to the employee, Stephanie was shot and killed.

The Daleville Police Department launched an investigation, with Police Chief John Crawford asking the public for any information. After speaking with witnesses and obtaining surveillance video from the restaurant, investigators identified Ricky McCray as a suspect.

Several days after the shooting, authorities arrested Ricky McCray. The Ozark Police Department and the Dale County Sheriff’s Office assisted Daleville Police in the arrest, which included a search of the home where he was found. He was subsequently charged with murder.

In late September 2024, a Dale County grand jury formally indicted Ricky McCray on one count of murder for the death of his wife. According to court records from October 2024, he is being held in the Dale County Jail without bond while awaiting trial. A trial date has not yet been set.