Second person jailed in murder

A second Atmore man has been charged with murder for the Jan. 13, 2024, shooting death of Okeema McCants, 39, also of Atmore.

Cleo Frye III, 30, 310 East Sunset Drive, was arrested Feb. 15 and is currently being held in the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton without bond. Frye joins Charles DeWayne Walker, 25, 1214 North Main St., for the murder of McCants.

District Judge Eric Coale has scheduled an Aniah's Law hearing Friday to determine whether or not Frye is entitled to a bond.

Atmore police originally responded to the area of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and Bragg Street about 10:55 a.m. on Jan. 13 in reference to shots being fired.

When officers arrived they discovered McCants was suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Officers administered first aid until an ambulance arrived and McCants was transported to Atmore Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Information police received from witnesses led officers to arrest Walker about two hours after the shooting.

Police stated last week that during the initial investigation of the crime scene, investigators recovered spent shell casings from two different caliber firearms. Investigators then identified Frye as the other suspect in the shooting.

Police stated they received information that Frye may have left the Atmore area and police requested the assistance of the United States Marshall's Service to help locate Frye.

Agents took Frye into custody without incident about 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15 on Woods Road and Frye was transported to the detention center.