MOBILE, Ala. — Mobile police have charged a 19-year-old man in the shooting death of 15-year-old Anesa Baker, who was wounded when gunfire erupted at a teen party at The Grand Hall earlier this spring.
Officers took Jamarkus Montrez Holifield into custody on a Wednesday and booked him in connection with Baker’s death. Police said the investigation remains active and that additional charges are possible.
A party shooting with seven victims
The case traces back to April 1, when shots were fired at a pre-spring break party at The Grand Hall. Authorities said seven people were hurt, among them Baker, who clung to life for ten days before dying of her injuries on April 11.
Police Chief Lawrence Battiste called it a significant case for the department. “This was a big case… there’s no reason that we should deal with our 15-year-olds dying at the hand of gunfire in our community,” Battiste said.
Baker’s basketball coach and family members were at police headquarters as Holifield was transported to jail. The coach said the family had hoped for an arrest and was relieved it came, though the moment brought back the pain of their loss.
Suspect previously tied to another shooting
Holifield had also been arrested in connection with a November 2017 shooting at the Thomas Sullivan Community Center, where two teenagers — 15 and 16 years old — were found with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. That incident began at a birthday party on Catherine Street before spilling into the community center parking lot. He was later released on bond in that case, according to jail records.
Battiste cautioned that the work is far from over. “Once you make the arrest you’ve got to have your court appearances, your bond hearings,” he said, noting investigators must be careful about how much detail they release while the case moves through the courts.