Marine veteran middle school teacher, 36, who shot dead an 11-year-old boy on a turkey hunt has charges upgraded to capital murder by Alabama grand jury
A grand jury has upgraded charges against Alabama man Joshua Stewart Burks, 36, in the May shooting death of 11-year-old Troy Ellis
On December 10 Burks was charged with capital murder of a person under the age of 14 and faces eligibility for the death penalty if convicted
In May Burks, a military vet and middle school teacher, went on a turkey hunt
During the hunt he fatally shot Troy Ellis and injured his father Obed Ellis
He was booked back into Jefferson County Jail Friday and released on bond
By Erica Thomas, managing editor
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Former Teacher Gets Charged With Capital Murder For Gunning Down 11-Year-Old In A Turkey-Hunting Accident
Dec 23 2020, 12:14PM EST
A former middle school teacher from Alabama, who was accused of killing a student in a Turkey hunting accident in Jefferson County was slapped with upgraded criminal charges on Friday.
Joshua Stewart Burks, 36 was initially facing charges of reckless manslaughter after his bullet fatally pierced through Troy Ellis, an 11-year-old student. Now, he faces upgraded charges to capital murder of a person below 14 and was released on Friday after posting a $60,000 bond.
The fateful incident occurred at around 9 a.m. on May 1 at an event curated by a group, America’s Heroes Enjoying Recreation Outdoors. The group hosts various hunts for wounded veterans like Burks, where The Cahaba Elementary School fifth-grader and his father Obed Ellis was present.
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