PELHAM, AL (WBRC) -
The man accused of shooting three men to death in Pelham made his first appearance in a Shelby County court Tuesday.
Suspect Jon Staggs, Jr. was made aware of his charges today in a brief appearance via closed circuit TV in a Shelby County courtroom. Staggs is charged in the deaths of Casey Cumberland, 22, Joshua Smith, 22, and Simeon Gilmore, 19.
Staggs, 20, is charged with four counts of capital murder. Three of the counts are for committing murder during the course of a burglary and the other count is for killing two or more people in one act.
The family of victim Casey Cumberland says the shooting stemmed from a $40 drug debt and that the suspect shot the three victims while they were sleeping Sunday afternoon.
Today, a local flower shop set up a memorial made of white and red roses and lilies outside the home on Chandabrook Drive where the shootings allegedly took place.
Cody Smith, an 18-year-old who described himself as a family friend of one of the victims, Joshua Smith, said the news of his friend's death is still sinking in.
"Devastating. Very devastating…just trying to deal with it the best we can," Cody Smith said.
Funeral arrangements for one of the victims, Casey Cumberland, have been made. His visitation will be held at the chapel of the Charter Funeral Home in Calera Wednesday, Sept. 12 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. His funeral will be held at the same place on Thursday, Sept. 13 at 11:00 a.m.
The funeral plans for Smith and Gilmore have not yet been finalized.
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Jon Staggs, Jr. is charged with four counts of capital murder in the deaths of three young men in Pelham. Source: Pelham Police Department
A local florist set up a memorial at the home where police say three men were murdered in Pelham. Source: WBRC video
A memorial of white and red roses and lilies has been placed outside the home on Chandabrook Drive for the three victims killed Sunday. Source: WBRC video
