Grandfather, grandson killed in robbery

MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. (WALA) - Mobile police said at 1:30 Wednesday morning, three men came to a trailer on Old Military Road and kicked in the front door in a brazen robbery.

Police said a gun battle broke out between the suspects and the homeowner. In the end, the homeowner and his grandson were killed.

Inside a blue-trimmed mobile home, a man and his young grandson shared their final moments in terror.

Willie Sullivan, 66, and his young grandson, Glenn Sullivan, were inside when three robbers stormed in. Police said as the suspects were firing their weapons, Willie fought back.

"He was able to fire his own weapon, striking two of the suspects," Mobile police Chief Micheal T. Williams said.

Sullivan injured two of the three robbers, but it was too late. Willie and his grandson died from their wounds.

In the course of the investigation, police arrested Ricky Turner, Tavares Jones and Bryant Reynolds. They are being charged with capital murder.

On Wednesday, Turner was escorted to Metro Jail. As he was escorted to a police car, he told reporters he did not commit the crime.

Police said his two accomplices will join him in Metro after they're treated for their gunshot wounds.

Police also said Willie Sullivan had a connection to the department.

"I can tell you this is personal for me," Williams said. "One of the police officers who works here as a Lieutenant. Mr. Sullivan is his father."

Chief Williams said the Sullivan family was well known throughout the community for their work in the construction business.

Now a patriarch and a young man are dead, and police said the three men have to pay for the crime.

Two of them have long rap sheets. Tavares Jones has been arrested every year since 2008. In 2010, he was booked on drug charges.

In 2009 and 2008, Jones was arrested for carrying a pistol without a permit and he was also booked on more drug charges.

In 2005, he was charged with assault and firing a gun into a building or a vehicle.

Bryant Reynolds has been in trouble with the law four times in the last two years. He was arrested in February 2011 on drug charges and for carrying a pistol without a permit.

In 2009, Bryant was booked into Metro twice. One time was for domestic violence and harassment. The other time on drug charges. He was also arrested in 2006 for harassment.

Ricky Turner was booked on a number of traffic charges back in 2009.

Earlier on Wednesday, Mobile police searched his home on Washington Boulevard, which is just a few blocks from the crime scene.

Police have not said what, if anything, they found.