Judge gives 2nd teen charged in Hoover veteran's murder $1M bond

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Charleston Wells is also charged with the murder of Mike Gilotti. Source: Hoover PD

BESSEMER, AL (WBRC) - A district judge in Bessemer set a $1 million bond for the 17-year-old charged in the January shooting death of Iraq War veteran Mike Gilotti.

Ahmad Jaquan Johnson appeared with his attorney in the Jefferson County Courthouse in Bessemer on Tuesday to request bond and youthful offender status.

"He is entitled to a bond based on the law of Alabama," Johnson's attorney Bret Gray stated during the hearing.

Jefferson County assistant district attorney Lane Tolbert opposed the request for bond.

Tolbert told Judge David Hobdy two shell casings were recovered at the Lake Cyrus murder scene: a 9mm and a 40 caliber.

Tolbert stated Johnson was in possession of two handguns, a 9mm and 40 caliber, when he was arrested.

"The 9mm was tested," Tolbert told Judge Hobdy. "The casing and gun matched."

"The DA's office has made a lot of allegations and accusations of what they have - things that match. None of this has been provided to me as Mr. Johnson's attorney," Gray said in court.

The judge set bond on the murder charge at $1 million.

"These cases do strongly concern this court because I want everyone to be fully placed on notice," Judge Hobdy stated during his ruling. "This foolishness is going to stop. The people of the Bessemer-Cutoff deserve better."

A family member of Johnson, who did not identify herself as she left court, said she was "disappointed" in the ruling.

In addition to the bond request, Judge Hobdy set an April 27 youthful offender status hearing for Johnson.

Gray said his client was entitled to the hearing due to being under the age of 20.

If granted youthful offender status, Johnson's trial would be decided by a judge and not a jury.

Johnson and 16-year-old Charleston Wells have each been indicted on one count of murder and nine counts of unlawful breaking and entering of a vehicle in Hoover's Lake Cyrus community in the early morning hours of Jan. 5.

Investigators believe 33-year-old Mike Gilotti surprised the suspects when he walked out of his house before 5 a.m. on the way to the gym.

Prosecutors have said Johnson, Wells and perhaps two other individuals had spent the early morning hours breaking into vehicles before the shooting occurred.

Gilotti was fatally shot in the back.

Wells is also being held on $1 million bond.

Pelham police also confirmed on Tuesday that both Wells and Johnson have now been charged with first-degree robbery stemming from a late 2015 incident.

Pelham's police chief says it is an open investigation involving a series of vehicle thefts and more charges could follow.