Lawyer for suspect in fatal Ala. school shooting says violence was likely related to gangs

Attorney: Ala. school shooting likely gang-related

MADISON, Ala. — A lawyer for a ninth-grader charged with shooting a fellow student to death at their Alabama school says the violence was likely related to gang activity.

Bruce Gardner represents a 14-year-old boy being held in the slaying of Todd Brown, a fellow ninth grader at Discovery Middle School in Madison. Brown was killed Friday.

Gardner’s client is charged murder. He’s being held pending a hearing next week on whether he’ll be tried as an adult.

Gardner said Monday he believes that evidence will show the slaying was related to gang activity. He said his client was in a gang.

Police say they are investigating numerous possible motives, including whether the shooting was related to gangs.

The name of Gardner’s client hasn’t been released because of his age.