Newly appointed General Sessions Court Judge Gerald Webb on Tuesday directed that a man charged with shooting another man seven times be placed under a GPS monitor upon the request of the state.
Prosecutor Larry Ables said the bond initially was set "incredibly low" at $20,000 for Darius Woods. He said, "It was very peculiar how this bond was set with no conditions whatsoever. This man has been walking around free ever since."
Defense attorney Hank Hill denied that it was set without the state being present. He said, "A DA is always present when these bonds are set."
He said prosecutor Ables was upset "because you didn't get to set the bond in your favorite court - Judge Statom's."
Court officials said the bond was set by General Sessions Court Judge Clarence Shattuck after the Sept. 9 shooting on Wheeler Avenue.
Judge Webb said he agreed the bond was low. He said in lieu of increasing the bond, he was ordering the ankle bracelet.
Attorney Hill denied there was any need for the monitor. He said Woods had been out for six months with no contact with anyone involved in the incident.
Police said Tavares Walker was found suffering from "multiple life-threatening gunshot wounds in the arms, legs and torso areas."
Walker said he knew Woods through a family member. He said that night he and a cousin went to the Hot Boys Lounge. He said when it closed around 3 a.m. they went on to an "after spot" on Wheeler Avenue, where you paid to get in. Attorney Hill called it a "good time house."
Walker said Woods was at the after spot and the two of them exchanged jokes about the other one being ugly. He said when that place closed he was walking with the cousin, two females and Woods toward their cars.
He said he was standing on one side of the females' car and Woods was on the other. He said they continued their banter. He said Woods got offended, walked around the car, and gave him a push. He said that caused a fight to break out that ended up some 30 yards away. He said he believed he had knocked Woods out, so he got up to leave.
Walker said a short time later he heard shots coming from behind him and he felt the sting of bullets. He said he wound up being shot in both arms and both legs. He said there were seven bullets and nine exit and entrance holes in all.
He said he was in the hospital for a month and had a metal plate inserted in one leg and a metal rod in the other. He said he still has two of the bullets in his body.
Under cross-examination, Walker said he formerly lived in Chicago and was a member of Satan's Disciples.
The cousin, Leon Walker, said he was at the car when the fight broke out. He said after it appeared that Woods was out cold, he saw him rise up with a gun and start firing.
During the hearing, prosecutor Ables twice called attorney Hill "Judge Hill," saying it appeared he was making the rulings.
Judge Webb, who was sworn in earlier this month, at one point said he was "close to using my gavel for the first time."
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