William Austin Wheat-Payne,James Peydon Wheat-Payne Arrested; – Two siblings are currently incarcerated at Mobile County Metro Jail and face murder charges following a deadly shooting incident in Eight Mile over the weekend, as reported by officials and jail documentation.
The Mobile County Sheriff’s Office has identified the victim of the murder as James Suggs, 57, who was discovered by deputies in his yard on Sunday evening with a gunshot wound to his neck. He was transported to a local hospital where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries, according to the MCSO.
The shooting took place in the 4000 block of East Markris Circle. Brothers William Austin Wheat-Payne, 25, and James Peydon Wheat-Payne, 27, both residents of McIntosh, were booked into jail on murder charges around midnight, as indicated by records.
Investigators have stated that witnesses present during the shooting identified the brothers as the assailants.
The suspects fled the scene in a vehicle and proceeded to Blount High School, where Austin Wheat-Payne made a 911 call, according to the MCSO. The Prichard Police Department responded to the school and detained both individuals until MCSO deputies arrived.
Officials have reported that the firearm believed to have been used in the shooting was recovered from the front seat of the vehicle occupied by the Wheat-Payne brothers.
The preliminary investigation has indicated that the brothers arrived at Suggs’ residence armed, as stated by the MCSO. Austin Wheat-Payne mentioned that Suggs had been conducting construction work at his home and that he suspected Suggs of stealing personal property from him, according to investigators.
Austin and James Wheat-Payne traveled to Suggs’ residence to confront him, leading to an argument during which Suggs was shot, as reported by the MCSO.
