Law enforcement officers on scene when shots rang out at Frisco City bonfire event; Beatrice man is held on $1.5 million bond
Frisco City Police Chief Jeff Dunn, left, and Monroe County Sheriff Tom Boatwright, right, escort Hale into Monroe County Courthouse Monday.
One man is dead and another is in jail on murder charges after a lethal shooting that occurred at a bonfire event just after midnight Friday in Frisco City.
The incident began around 8:30 p.m. last Thursday, which was Thanksgiving, when Frisco City police received a complaint about loud music at what appeared to be a bonfire just outside of the town limits on Snider Avenue. Frisco City police and Monroe County Sheriff's deputies responded to the complaint and found traffic backed up for several hundred yards, waiting to get into the event, Frisco City Police Chief Jeff Dunn said. Within a short period of time, the crowd swelled to about 400 people, Dunn said.
Shortly after midnight, gunshots were fired between the parking area and the bonfire, leaving Willis Mathias "Matt" Likely, a 20-year-old from Castleberry, seriously wounded. At the time of the shooting, law enforcement officers were already on scene, just outside on Snider Avenue, and Monroeville police also responded to assist, Dunn said.
Likely, who had been wounded by a .9-mm handgun, was transported to the emergency room at Monroe County Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after 1 a.m.
The alleged shooter - Jarviuntae Artrez Hale, 20, of Beatrice - surrendered to law enforcement officers early Friday morning at the Monroe County Jail in Monroeville. Hale, who is charged with murder, had his initial appearance in court on Monday afternoon, and his bond was set at $1.5 million. Hale remained in jail as of Tuesday afternoon.
Dunn noted that the bonfire was held on private property that borders land owned by the town of Frisco City, and that law enforcement and town officials had no prior knowledge that the event was going to be held. Dunn said that the private property where the bonfire was held runs along the boundary of the town limits.
The host of the bonfire was charging an admission fee to attend the event, which included a DJ playing music for the crowd, Dunn said. According to security, that had been provided by the host, they were searching attendees for weapons before they were allowed to enter the event, Dunn said.
Dunn noted that the case is still under investigation and anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Dunn at 251-593-5141, the Monroe County Sheriff's Office at 251-575-2635 or their nearest law enforcement agency.
Dunn also issued a special thanks to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, the Monroeville Police Department, the Conecuh County Sheriff's Office, the Escambia County Sheriff's Office and the Atmore Police Department for their assistance with the case.
