1 dead in Knights of Columbus shooting

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - One person was killed when a Mardi Gras party ended in gunfire early around 1:40 a.m. Tuesday.

A different group was getting ready for a cabaret at the Knights of Columbus building later Tuesday morning.  Brandy Smith said her social club has parties there every Mardi Gras, and she doesn't want the building,or the area to get the blame for the overnight violence.

"So, I just don't want people to think, 'Oh well, if you have something over  there you might get shot.' No, that could happen anywhere," Smith said.

Three people were shot inside the building.

One of the victims, 18-year-old Jakaria Fox, died later at the hospital. The other two victims suffered non-life threatening injuries.

FOX10 News has learned the murder victim was recently convicted in connection with the murder of a teenager.

Police confirm that Fox and two others were arrested in 2009 in connection with the shooting death of 15-year-old Markel Anderson. 

Anderson was shot outside a community center in Toulminville. Police said the teen was not the intended victim.

Online court records show Fox pleaded guilty to manslaughter in connection with the crime. He was sentenced on November 30, 2011, and less than two weeks later the sentence was suspended.

The social club that was preparing to gather at the same spot on Mardi Gras night said there would be licensed and off-duty police officers handling security.

"I'm not pointing fingers and saying it's this person's fault. It is the people who pulled the trigger's fault, but still you have to make precautions to make sure that your people are safe. We're all in this together, and if we're not safe how we going to make everybody else up in here safe?" Tameka Perry said.

If you have any information on the shooting, call Mobile Police.