Judge throws out murder charge against man accused of Prichard shooting

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - A judge on Monday threw out a murder charge against a man accused of firing shots at Prichard home that doubled as a nightclub.

Mobile County District Judge Spiro Cheriogotis ruled prosecutors simply did not have sufficient evidence to sustain the charge against Travon Motez Glover, 38, of Mobile.

Defense attorney Stewart Hanley said it was the only decision the judge could have made.

“The evidence came out that out of dozens or a hundred people at this location, no one identified my client,” he told FOX10 News after hearing. “Even one of the victims said that – she stated he was not there, and she did not believe it was him.”

The judge’s ruling was the culmination of a hearing that began last month with bombshell testimony from the surviving victim, who said in court that she never saw Glover at the establishment. The judge suspended that hearing and ordered it to resume Monday with testimony from Willie Baker Jr., whom the victim accused of firing shots in November.

Baker, who owns the property on Sweeney Lane, testified that friends and family gathered on Nov. 26 for a “celebration of life” event for a man who had passed away. Shortly after midnight, gunfire erupted, causing the death of Jovonni McKeller and wounding her best friend.

Baker declined to answer most substantive questions about the shooting or who was involved, citing his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. He did answer one question, though: He said Glover did not have a gun.

“I think it’s noteworthy that he took the Fifth Amendment on most things, but he specifically and directly said during that hearing that he did not see my client with a gun,” Hanley said.

Baker has not been charged in the case.

Mobile County Chief Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Susman said it was Baker’s legal right not to testify. But she added that Monday’s ruling won’t end the investigation.

“I think it’s important to remember that these cases happen in real life,” she said. “This is not a TV show. So sometimes, witnesses are imperfect. Sometimes they have trouble testifying for various reasons. … This is not the end of the road for that case.”

Even when a judge finds prosecutors have not demonstrated probable cause at a preliminary hearing, they have the option of presenting the case to a grad jury. It is something the Mobile County District Attorney’s Office has done in the past, although Susman declined to say whether prosecutors would do so in this case.

Byrson Earl Davis, the co-defendant, continues a face murder and assault charges.

“The cases have been separated, and so the outcome of this hearing does not necessarily imply any particular outcome on the other hearings,” she said.