Charges upgraded to murder

Charges against an illegal immigrant living in McDavid have been upgraded from attempted murder to murder after the female victim he is accused of shooting in the head died.

Luis Trevizo Becerra, 39, 1311 North Highway 99, remains in the Escambia County Detention Center Brewton. District Judge Eric Coale originally set Becerra's bond at $5 million on the attempted murder charge after Becerra said he did not have a green card allowing him to be in the United States. Once the victim died several days later, the charge was upgraded to murder. Judge Coale also appointed Jeremy Hawsey to represent Becerra.

Becerra was scheduled to appear back before Judge Coale Wednesday afternoon for another bond hearing under Alabama's Aniah's Law. District Attorney Steve Billy said he will request Becerra be held without bond on the murder charge. Billy also noted that information his office has received shows that Becerra has been deported from the United States twice but still manages to get back into the country.

According to reports from the Atmore Police Department and court records, about 11:45 a.m. May 17, Atmore police responded to a room at the Southland Hotel at 1304 East Louisville Ave., in reference to a gunshot victim.

When officers arrived they discovered a female, later identified as Tara Ann Bryan, lying on the floor. Bryan had been shot with a .9 mm handgun

Bryan was transported by helicopter to a trauma center.

Investigators were able to determine the suspect was Becerra and a statewide Be On the Look Out was issued. Becerra was apprehended by an Alabama Law Enforcement Agency state trooper at exit 99 on Interstate 65.

He was transported to the Atmore Police Department and interviewed by investigators and charged with attempted murder. The charge was later elevated to murder after Bryan died.