UPDATED @ 09:28 AM. 08:50 AM. Dothan Police Make Arrest In December Murder

Rickey Stokes

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Posted by: RStokes
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Date: Mar 21 2019 9:14 AM

UPDATED INFORMATION - This was not a new arrest as I first thought but an arrest that was made in December 2018. Today was a bond hearing only.

Sorry for the error.

DOTHAN:    08:50 AM.    Dothan Police Investigator Keith Cook has made an arrest of a suspect in a December murder.

Dothan Police arrested Ronald Eugene Ducker, age 56, in connection with the shooting death of Damion Jordan Hall. The shooting occured at Walker’s Motel on East Main.

Ducker is booked on Murder - Non Family - Gun. He is in the Houston County Jail on a no bond.

Ducker appeared before the Honorable Benjamin Lewis, District Court Judge for Houston County. The hearing was via closed circuit TV from the jail to the 2nd floor courtroom. The court appearance is Initial Appearance where the defendant  is advised to his rights, the charge and range of punishment, does he plan to hire an attorney, if not does he need a court appointed attorney. Then the Judge explores his finances to see if the defendant qualifies for a court appointed attorney.

#dothan   #crime   #murder   #textrickeystokesnews3347901729

UPDATED @ 09:29 AM

This person was on the Initial Appearance Docket this morning for Judge Lewis and the offense listed was Murder - no bond. At the time of the original article I did not realize this person has been in jail since December 14, 2018, the day of the occurance. 

The purpose of his being on the Initial Appearance docket was for a bond hearing.

Mr. Ducker is represented by Attorney Ben Freeman.

Dothan Police Criminal Investigator Keith Cook is the primary investigator on this case. 

Investigator Cook testified that Ducker and the victim Hall were both staying at Walker Motel. Mr. Freeman asked Investigator Cook if people live at Walker Motel and he testified he does. There are no known prior felonies on Mr. Ducker.

Investigator Cook testified Ducker is alleged to have shot Hall multiple times, four to five times, with a 9 mm handgun. The handgun was recovered from search of his motel room. 

Investigator Cook testified that there was no relationship between Ducker and the victim Hall. There was a confrontation in the parking lot of Walker Motel. Hall had been talking on the phone and Ducker was cussing Hall and attempting to get him off the phone. Investigator Cook testified that Ducker went in the room and returned back to the parking lot cussing, apparently intoxicated, and shot Hall four to five times with a handgun.

Ducker left the scene and stopped at the store in Cottonwood. At the store he told the clerk of the store that he thought he had shot someone. Law Enforcement was called to the Cottonwood store where Mr. Ducker was taken into custody.

Investigator Cook testified that Ducker made a spontaneous statement that it was self defense. Investigator Cook testified that Ducker, once he was read his Miranda rights invoked those rights and did not give a statement. Investigator Cook testified that he thought Mr. Ducker was a danger to the community in that he apparentyl shot Hall without provocation.

Attorney Ben Freeman called the employer of Mr. Ducker to the stand. The employer testified that Ducker was a good employee and had worked for him for 6 to 9 months. That Ducker had been living in the business but it was cold that night and he had given him money to get a motel room. The employer testified that Ducker has a 18 year son and most of his money went to support his son.

The employer testified that Ducker would still have employment with him if he was released on bond. The employer testified there has been no violence on the part of Mr. Ducker and he did  not feel he was a threat.

Attorney Ben Freeman argued that Ducker, at age 57, had no criminal history. Until this date Ducker had no prior criminal trouble. Freeman said that his client claims self defense in the shooting. That the facts he alleges are different then some statements that Investigator Cook took from witnesses.

The state asked for a bond of $ 500,000.00. Attorney Ben  Freeman asked for a bond within the bond schedule.

Judge Lewis took the facts under advisement and would render a decision by sometime on Friday.

Ducker has been in custody since the December 14, 2018 arrest. The murder case next step in the legal process is for the case to be presented to a Houston County Grand Jury.

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