Auburn Shooter On The Run; AU Players Among Six Shot, Three Killed

June 10, 2012

A massive regional manhunt is underway for 22-year old Desmonte Leonard of Montgomery after  six people were shot and three died during a shootout at an Auburn apartment complex Saturday night.

At about 10:03 p.m. Saturday, the Auburn Police Division responded to a report of shots fired in the area of a clubhouse at the University Heights apartments located in the 200 block of West Longleaf Drive.

When officers arrived on the scene they located multiple gunshot victims — former Auburn football player Edward J. Christian, age 20, of Valdosta, GA, was pronounced dead at the scene by Lee County Coroner Bill Harris.  Two others, former Auburn player Ladarious K. Phillips, age 20, of Roanoke, AL, and Demario A. Pitts, age 20, of Opelika, AL, were transported by ambulance to East Alabama Medical Center where they were pronounced dead.

Three additional victims, Xavier D. Moss, age 19, and John Q. Robertson, age 20, both of Roanoke, AL, and current Auburn football player Eric R. Mack, age 20, of Cameron, SC, were transported by ambulance to EAMC for treatment of gunshot wounds.  Moss was treated and released while Mack was admitted to EAMC and Robertson was transferred to UAB Hospital in Birmingham. Mack was released from the hospital Sunday afternoon.

Auburn police say they have a motive in the shooting, but they are not yet releasing it.

The shooter, who fled the scene in a vehicle along with two other men, has been identified as Leonard, according to police.  The vehicle was later found abandoned off Wire Road in Macon County, AL.

Warrants for three counts of capital murder have been obtained on Leonard and officers are working to determine his whereabouts.  Police are also working to locate and question the two men who fled with Leonard.  Their identities are not being released at this time.

“This is a sad, sad day for everyone associated with the entire Auburn family. I am devastated by the passing of three young men, including two that I personally knew in Ed Christian and Ladarious Phillips and my heart goes out to their families,” Auburn head football coach Gene Chizik said.

“My thoughts and prayers are with their families and all of the victims involved in this tragic incident. Nobody should ever have to endure such unimaginable grief, and we will love and support the victims’ families during this terribly difficult time. We have a lot of people on our football team that are hurting right now and we’re going to do everything we can to help them get through this. We are relieved that Eric Mack, who was also a victim in this incident, is expected to make a full recovery. This is a very trying time for everyone involved, and I would just ask that you lift up the victims and their families in your prayers,” Chizik continued.

The case is being investigated by the Auburn Police Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshal’s Service, Lee County Coroner’s Office, and the State Medical Examiner’s Office.  The Montgomery Police Department, Opelika Police Department, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Macon County Sheriff’s Office are also assisting in the case.

Anyone with information pertaining to the case is asked to contact Auburn Police Division detectives at (334) 501-3140 or anonymously by text or voice to the tip line at (334) 246-1391 or by phone to their local law enforcement agency.

Pictured below: Police stand guard at the entrance to the University Heights Apartments in Auburn, Ala., Sunday morning as the investigation continues into a shooting with multiple victims. Photo courtesy al.com for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

7 Responses to “Auburn Shooter On The Run; AU Players Among Six Shot, Three Killed”

  1. Walt on June 11th, 2012 9:23 am

    @ me,
    Ladarious Phillips was an outstanding high school athlete with natural talent, but just didn’t live up to his potential at Auburn. He was currently in the process of transferring to Jacksonville State.

    Ed Christian was redshirted his freshman year, but was never allowed to play due to a herniated disc. The doc’s told him, “it’s a no go.” So, he was placed on a medical scholarship, but was no longer part of the team.

    The information was provided by an article from Al.com

  2. who dat on June 11th, 2012 8:37 am

    JM,

    People have been killing each other since the beginning of time. Every person in the U.S. has the right to defend themselves. As the old Smoky the Bear commercial used to say, matches don’t start fires, people do. A gun doesn’t kill. I have guns at my home, and none of my guns have ever took it upon itself to kill anything. Only when I put that gun in my hand does it become deadly. The guns are not the problem. The person with the gun is. You have the right to your opinion, but I will always defend my right to protect myself and my family. This thug needs to be fried for his actions.

  3. me on June 11th, 2012 7:32 am

    Very sad….does anyone know why they are former football players when they are only 20?

  4. JM on June 11th, 2012 4:27 am

    @Wilma
    I agree totally with you Wilma except mam it is to late to say every TOM DICK
    and HARRY doesn’t need a gun. Every TOM DICK and HARRY unfortunately
    already HAS a gun and if we continually tried to run some kind of ” turn in your gun thingy every week”, we would still never be able to get them all off the streets and out of the hands of thugs like these~

    The almighty NRA and all their money hungry lawyers and lobbyist’s have already beaten the likes of you and I, who know, no one needs more than a rife or small
    hand gun for the odd critter or home defense. Guns are now every where in every one’s hands and they are meant to kill people.

    We hear a lot about OUR RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS IN THIS COUNTRY, but
    hundreds of years ago when our constitution was written we did not have
    AK47’s, and some of the most powerful guns MADE IN THE WORLD BEING USED BY EVERY TOM, DICK AND HARRY FOR THE NEW AMERICAN WAR……. DRUGS~

    OUR FOREFATHERS WOULD ROLL OVER IN THEIR GRAVES!

  5. Paul Johnson on June 10th, 2012 6:59 pm

    The reason to take a gun to a pool party is because there may be another Desmonte Leonard there. I agree that if think that you will actually need a gun
    you should stay home. Otherwise come a packing.
    Paul Johnson, Milton, Fl

  6. Wilma Gibson on June 10th, 2012 5:12 pm

    The very reason every Tom, Dick, and Harry does not need a gun. If you need a gun at a party, you don’t need to be at the party.

  7. Bill Healy on June 10th, 2012 1:28 pm

    I can’t remember the last time I took a gun to a pool party. Yeah I can….never.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News, Sports, TOP sports