Three Convicted of Federal Murder-for-Hire Conspiracy Involving Shootings at 2 Mobile Clubs and Walmart

A federal jury in Alabama convicted three people of conspiracy to murder for hire and other charges involving Shootings at two Mobile nightclubs and a Walmart two years agofederal prosecutors said Friday.

The plot, which did not kill the intended target but left several people injured, including one person who was paralyzed, was orchestrated in retaliation for an earlier murder, said Sean Costello, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama.

After a three-week trial, the Mobile jury convicted John Fitzgerald McCarroll, Jr., 30, Darrius Dwayne Rowser, 20, and Lyteria Isheeia Hollis, 30, all of Mobile, on charges of conspiracy to murder for hire, murder for hire, conspiracy to steal cars, interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle, tampering with evidence and witness tampering.

Under federal law, each defendant faces a mandatory life sentence in prison.

Court documents and evidence including text messages, social media, financial records and surveillance video showed McCarroll, aided by Hollis and others, directing payments to would-be killers, including Rowser and others, to carry out the planned murder. .

Evidence showed that the hired shooters attempted, but failed, to kill the intended target during several nightclub shootings in 2022.

Reginald Dennis Alan Fluker, who previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy, opened fire at the Bank Nightlife club in September 2022 with a gun given to him by McCarroll.

Fluker shot the wrong person, who later died from his wounds.

In November 2022, Rowser used a machine gun given to him by McCarroll to shoot the intended target inside the Paparazzi Lounge in Mobile. Rowser also missed his target and instead hit four victims, one of whom was left paralyzed.

Evidence also showed that, as part of the conspiracy, Rowser and others, under the direction of McCarroll, traveled to Mississippi to steal cars and use them in surveillance of the target of the plot.

In September 2022, during an attempted carjacking in D’Iberville, Mississippi, Rowser shot and killed a victim. As part of that murder, Rowser and an accomplice traveled back to Mobile and burned the stolen car they were using during the attempted robbery.

Evidence also showed that in December 2022, at McCarroll’s direction, Rowser and other co-conspirators traveled to the Walmart on I-65 Service Road South in Mobile to purchase a GPS tracker for the target’s vehicle.

During that trip, Rowser and an accomplice opened fire in the self-checkout area of ​​the store, wounding two victims.

Finally, the evidence showed that following the arrests of McCarroll, Fluker and other members of the conspiracy, the defendants attempted to tamper with evidence and a witness.

Specifically, McCarroll ordered Hollis to hide a gun he had previously purchased for Fluker due to Fluker’s involvement in the murder plot. Federal agents confiscated that gun from Hollis’ home.

Additionally, the jury convicted McCarroll of attempting to alter Fluker’s testimony by having him sign a false affidavit, which was filed in state court in order for McCarroll to earn jail bail.

U.S. District Judge Terry F. Moorer scheduled sentencing for March 6.