June 09--Two Decatur High School students were arrested Friday in the June 2 murder of Houston Glenn Blackwood, a southeast Decatur man.
Decatur police said Jameson Dartelle Staten, 17, of 3106 Farmington Road S.W., and Steve Oneal King Jr., 17, of 1304 Donna Ave. S.E., were each charged with capital murder.
Decatur City Schools officials said King is a sophomore and Staten a junior at Decatur High.
Decatur Police spokesman Lt. John Crouch said Staten and King have been interviewed by officers, but offered no further details Friday. King and Staten were charged as adults.
Capital murder charges can be levied when a murder occurs during commission of another felony, such as kidnapping or burglary, or if the victim is murdered in his residence. Friends and family of Blackwood said the shooters appear to have broken into Blackwood's home, but police have not confirmed that.
Tyler Hann, a 17-year-old friend of King and Blackwood, did not recognize Staten's name but was shocked to learn King was accused in the murder.
"He doesn't seem like the kind of person who would do this," Hann said.
Hann said King was part of Blackwood's circle of friends.
"He isn't poor," he said. "He always had what he needed. I don't know, maybe he was just trying to look like a thug."
Hann said he had seen King riding in a car with an unfamiliar person since Blackwood's death.
Residents at both suspects' addresses declined to comment.
Family members were gathered at King's residence and were visibly despondent.
Decatur High boys' basketball coach Jamie Lee said Staten tried out for the basketball team when he was a freshman. Although he didn't make the team, Lee said Staten was clearly talented.
"He never played a game for us, but now I wish he had," Lee said. "I might have been able to help him."
Lee said he is not acquainted with King.
Hann and other friends of Blackwood said they heard a third person turned himself in to police on Friday. Multiple calls made to Crouch and Police Chief Ed Taylor were not returned.
At about 12:30 a.m. June 2, Decatur police found the body of Blackwood, 33, at his residence in Chestnut Street Apartments after responding to a report of gunfire at the apartment at 1603 Chestnut St.
Blackwood had suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Decatur Emergency Medical Services was called to the scene, and Blackwood was pronounced dead at the scene.
Staten and King will be transferred to Morgan County Jail, police said.
Copyright 2012 - The Decatur Daily, Ala.
