Published: Monday, November 15, 2010, 6:23 PM
MOBILE, Ala. -- Mobile police arrested an 18-year-old Williamson High School student Monday and charged him with capital murder in the fatal shooting of a Domino’s Pizza employee earlier this month, authorities said.
John Earl Dortch remained in Mobile County Metro Jail Monday afternoon without bail in the Nov. 4 shooting death of Russell Lee Allen, 21, who was shot during the robbery at Domino’s Pizza, 2912 Dauphin Island Parkway.
Dortch was scheduled for a court appearance Wednesday, according to jail records.
The robbery at Domino’s Pizza is one of dozens of robberies police are investigating that have occurred at businesses and homes across the city during the last couple of months.
Police arrested Dortch about 9:30 a.m. in the 900 block of Tanglewood Drive. Police said in a statement that a resident called police with a tip that led to Dortch’s arrest. He was home when police picked him up, Chief Michael T. Williams said.
“Dortch told the detective that he had been suspended since October for an incident on campus,” Williams said.
Mobile County public school officials on Monday afternoon could not find a record of Dortch, a senior at Williamson, being suspended, according to school system spokeswoman Nancy Pierce.
“This young man went into this store to rob it, and things went downhill, and he ended up shooting this kid and killing him,” Williams said.
“It’s unfortunate in a lot of ways,” Williams said. “We end up losing a 21-year-old who was out there working and trying to make a living for himself. And then on the other side, we lose an 18-year-old who will be charged with capital murder.
“This is a case where we have the right man,” he said.
Williams said the suspect identified the type of gun used in the shooting, and the police were attempting to retrieve it Monday afternoon.
“It’s my understanding that according to him, it was accidental,” Williams said. “He didn’t mean to shoot the guy. But sometimes that is what they tell us to try to get us to minimize it.”
Williams said police will try to determine if Dortch will be charged with any other robberies.
Domino’s Pizza officials offered a $10,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest in the robbery.
“The detectives and the people who put up the reward will have to determine how that’s to be resolved,” Williams said.
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