Amari Bonner

Amari Bonner was a 17-year-old Black student at Selma High School, just a month away from graduation. Those who knew him described him as outgoing, humble, well-mannered, respectful, and kind. His life was cut short during an exchange of gunfire on a Saturday afternoon in his hometown of Selma, Alabama.

On April 10, 2021, Amari was a passenger in the back seat of a car driving down the 800 block of First Avenue. According to police, another passenger in the car, a 15-year-old, allegedly began shooting out of the window at a pedestrian on the sidewalk. The pedestrian, 16-year-old David Cole, returned fire at the vehicle as it passed. During the shootout, a bullet struck Amari in the lower back. The driver rushed him to Vaughn Regional Medical Center, but he died from his injuries.

Investigators quickly made two arrests. The 15-year-old who allegedly fired the first shots from the car was taken into custody and charged with felony murder, with authorities stating that his actions contributed to Amari’s death. David Cole, the pedestrian who fired back, was arrested and charged with capital murder.

While police stated they had a "strong belief" the incident was tied to a previous shooting at Selma High, a spokesperson for David Cole’s family offered a different account. The spokesperson claimed Cole was not the aggressor and had been defending his life, his sister, and their friends. The statement alleged that the individuals in the car had been stalking and harassing Cole’s family for weeks, including shooting into their home on more than one occasion. District Attorney Michael Jackson commented on the cycle of violence, stating, "All this retaliation has to stop. This ain’t the wild west."

About a week after the shooting, police announced two more arrests. The driver of the car, 17-year-old Joe Shelton, and the front-seat passenger, 17-year-old Kendarious Albritton, were both charged with felony murder. The District Attorney announced his intention to file motions to have the juvenile suspects in the case tried as adults. As of April 2021, four teenagers had been charged in connection with Amari Bonner’s death, and the case was proceeding through the court system.