Gravine Island teens' charges upgraded

BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. (WALA) - The Baldwin County District Attorney’s Office has upgraded charges for three teens arrested on Gravine Island Sunday.

Scott Tipton Byrd, Daniel Parnell and Dillon Wade Tyree, all 17, are all being charged as adults with first degree burglary, according to sheriff’s deputies.

Baldwin County District Attorney Hallie Dixon released the following statement explaining the upgrade in charges:

“The charge of first-degree burglary includes the additional element of entering a dwelling with a weapon or dangerous instrument. Alabama law provides that young people older than age 16 who are charged with a Class A felony involving a deadly weapon must be charged as adults and tried in adult court.”

Authorities tell FOX10 the three teens were breaking into fishing camps on the Gravine Island.

Officials said they were on the island with 17-year-old Summer Moody.

“At some point and time, a couple of gentlemen became alerted to their presence as they were breaking into one of these fishing camps,” said Baldwin County Sheriff Huey “Hoss” Mack.

According to the DA's office, that’s when Moody was shot in the back of the head by “fishermen.”

Robert Stankowski has been hired to represent the Moody family. He said there are still too many holes in the shooting investigation.

“We have questions as to whether or not these shooters were permitted to carry these weapons,” said Stankowski. “We have questions as to whether or not the shooter or shooters involved in this put himself in that zone of danger.”

He said the biggest question he has is was such force used by the shooter necessary. It’s something Dixon said she continues to look in to.

“It’s all got to be a reasonable belief,” said Dixon Monday. “It has to be equal force or appropriate force used to answer.”

Dixon also said the fishermen who are accused of firing the shot that hit Moody are not expected to be charged at this point.

Moody is still in critical condition at USA Medical Center.