High school football star charged with teen’s murder

An Alabama high school football star was reportedly arrested Wednesday in connection with last week’s fatal shooting of another teen.

According to The Epoch Times, Jesse Altman, 17, was charged with capital murder for the shooting death Aaron “AJ” Huff, 18, of Gadsen. Altman, a defensive tackle at Etowah High, is the fifth teen to be arrested and charged with Huff’s slaying. Jail records indicate that Broderick Lawrence Pearson, 18, Lonterry Orlando Harrison, 17, Kalab Blake Whitworth, 16, and Tyler Michael Abbott, 17, are also facing charges following the teen’s death.

USA Today reported that Altman had scholarship offers from Texas Tech, West Virginia, TCU, Oregon, Kentucky, and Mississippi State, and was being scouted by Alabama and Florida State.

On Thursday night, police responded to the area of Hoke Street and Litchfield Avenue following reports of shots fired. Upon responding, Gadsden Regional Hospital alerted them about a patient who came in suffering from a gunshot wound and ultimately died from his injuries, WBRC reported.

While detectives haven’t revealed a motive or who the identity of the shooter, they believe that Altman knew the victim. According to The Gadsen Times, police believe an altercation took place in a nearby parking lot which escalated when the gunman exited the vehicle and shot Huff, who was sitting in the passenger’s seat of the other car.

Gadsden Police Seargent John Hallman said that two of the suspects, Whitworth and Abbott have been charged as adults. It’s also unclear whether the other suspects will be tried as adults.

All five teens are being held in the Etowah County Jail without bond.

 

[Featured Image: Jesse Altman/Etowah County Jail; Aaron Huff/Village Chapel Funeral Home]