The suspect in the shooting of two Huntsville police officers and a civilian has been identified as Juan Robert Laws, 24.
Laws is charged with capital murder of a law enforcement officer in the death of officer Garrett Crumby and is held without bond in the Madison County Jail. But this isn’t his first time behind bars.
Laws was out on a $6,000 bond on two assault charges in Madison County. Prosecutors said he was arrested in January 2022 for suspected involvement in a shooting at a downtown bar. Court documents state Laws used a Smith & Wesson M&P (Military and Police) pistol. In that shooting, two people were hurt but the injuries were not serious, so Laws was charged with assault second-degree. Laws was given $3,000 in bonds for each charge. District Judge Linda Coats was assigned the case.
The assault cases are pending and have been sent to the grand jury.
Just two months after the assault arrest, Laws was arrested on a charge of carrying a pistol without a permit, a charge he pleaded guilty to. His bond in the assault case was not revoked at that time. Five days before the Huntsville police shooting, Judge Coats ordered the seized weapon be forfeited, and Laws was to pay $300 plus court costs by September this year.
Coats has also been assigned to the capital murder case. Larry R. Marsili has been appointed as Laws' attorney. Marsili has not returned a call from 1819 News at this time.
As for the fallen officer, Crumby died after being taken to the hospital for treatment. The other officer, Albert Morin, was hurt and also taken to the hospital. Morin had to have surgery and remains in critical condition. The civilian victim was also taken to the hospital for treatment. There is no word on her condition.
Investigators said the officers were ambushed by the suspect when they responded to a shooting at the Governor's House apartment complex on Tuesday, March 28.
Crumby had been with the Huntsville Police Department for three years.
“This is a painful night for the City of Huntsville and for our police family,” Mayor Tommy Battle said. “We are heartbroken. Words cannot express our loss. We have been overwhelmed by the show of love and support from our community, and we stand united with our police officers and their families in this tragic moment.”
On Wednesday, Gov Kay Ivey ordered flags to be flown at half-staff to honor Crumby.
Clarification: In Madison County, the Warrant Magistrate sets bail amounts, not the judge in the case.
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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