Mobile County Circuit Judge Vicki Davis on Tuesday authorized a murder charge against 22‑year‑old Deanta Kieson DuBose for the fatal shooting of Vanol Lucky at Gethsemane Cemetery in Prichard on Sept. 3. The ruling also revoked DuBose’s probation from an earlier attempted‑murder conviction, sending him back to prison under the county’s repeat‑offender “rocket docket.”
What the courtroom heard
An eyewitness who was in the car with DuBose, Lucky and another man testified that the four were smoking before heading to the cemetery. The witness said DuBose mentioned wanting to kill someone, but gave no further detail. After the group arrived, the witness walked back to his vehicle, heard a gunshot, and turned to see DuBose brandishing a firearm.
DuBose allegedly told the witness to avoid cameras as they fled, then changed into fresh clothing and burned the garments he had been wearing. The witness reported no arguments or agitation among the men before the shooting.
Investigators still lack a motive
Mobile County Sheriff’s Office investigator Vincent Gazzier called the motive “just speculation,” noting that neither the witness nor law‑enforcement officials could explain why DuBose carried out an execution‑style killing of someone he had been hanging out with. “For us to have perfect evidence of motive, we would have to read somebody’s mind, and we can’t do that,” Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood said outside the courtroom.
Blackwood added that prosecutors will continue to examine all attendant circumstances and present any admissible evidence to a jury.
Legal background and the repeat‑offender docket
DuBose previously pleaded guilty in 2024 to attempted murder stemming from a 2023 robbery at a Mobile Quick Stop. He received a 20‑year sentence with all but 17 years suspended. Under the new “rocket docket,” created in July to expedite cases involving repeat violent offenders, the murder charge will be tried within a year of arrest.
During the hearing, DuBose’s probation officer testified that he missed required drug tests in July and August and failed to complete court‑ordered community service, further justifying the revocation of his probation.
Defense raises questions
Defense attorney Jason Darley described the situation as “baffling,” questioning why no other occupants of the vehicle have been charged and noting the darkness of the cemetery that night. Darley said his investigator will visit the site to verify the witness’s account.
During cross‑examination, Darley asked why the witness allowed DuBose back into the car after the shooting and why the witness waited until the following day to contact a neighbor who is a Mobile police officer.
Forensic resources allocated
Blackwood said the Department of Forensic Sciences will prioritize the case, dedicating significant resources to ensure swift justice. “We’ve dedicated a tremendous number of resources to this docket for the very reason that it’s important to get these types of offenders off the street and in prison, if found guilty, as soon as possible,” he said.
The investigation recovered two shell casings after a groundskeeper reported finding Lucky’s body, and later two additional casings, though a firearm has not yet been located.
Community impact
The shooting has shocked residents of Prichard and the surrounding Mobile County area, raising concerns about safety in public spaces such as cemeteries. Local officials emphasized that the fast‑track docket is intended to protect the community by removing repeat violent offenders from the streets more quickly.
Original reporting: FOX10 WALA Mobile (news) — read the source article.
