What is Reckless Murder? Explaining charges in Dadeville shooting

April 21, 2023

Chelsea Barton,

Reckless murder charges have been filed against six suspects following a horrific shooting at a Sweet 16 birthday party in Dadeville on Saturday. So what exactly is reckless murder, and how is it different from charges like murder or capital murder?

According to Alabama law, reckless murder is: “A person who commits the crime of Reckless Murder is ‘determined to act no matter what the consequences to others;’ this person demonstrates that he/she was ‘determined to follow a course of action that he/she knew, or should have known, would, in all probability’ lead to the death of a person or persons.”

Tuscaloosa County District Attorney Hays Webb describes it this way:

“It’s confusing because there is manslaughter,” Webb said. “Manslaughter means that you have recklessly killed somebody. Manslaughter is is a Class B felony. The range on that is from two years to 20 years in prison. That is a reckless killing. A reckless murder is different than that. Reckless murder takes a mindset of disregarding the value of human life. It is done with an act, for instance shooting into a crowd. (The shooter) doesn’t have a specific target, but has done an act that is dangerous to human life without any concern for the value of human life.”

Essentially, reckless murder is when someone is fully aware of their actions and knows it will cause harm or death but does it anyway.

In Alabama, reckless murder is considered a Class A felony which, if convicted, can come with a sentence of 10 years to life in prison.

All six Dadeville shooting suspects are being held in the Tallapoosa County Jail without bond.