Russell County man faces possibility of the death penalty for May murder outside Phenix City bar

PHENIX CITY, Ala. ( WRBL ) — A man accused of firing an assault-style weapon into a local restaurant in May appeared in court Thursday morning.

Jeffery Aaron “Fruitloop” Spurlock, 42, appeared with his attorney Jeremy Armstrong at his preliminary court hearing in front of District Court Judge Jamie Graham. Spurlock and his attorney waived the hearing when District Attorney Rick Chancey revealed the case would be presented to a Russell County Grand Jury as early as June 27.

Spurlock is accused of firing an assault-style weapon into the Aces Bar and Grill on U.S. Highway 80 West at 1:30 a.m. on May 25. Jacob Sanes, 34, of Smiths Station, Alabama was struck and killed by one of the 14 rounds fired as he was leaving the bar that morning.

Chancey says Sanes was not the target of the shooting.

Spurlock faces charges of capital murder shooting from a vehicle, shooting into an occupied building and certain persons prohibited from possessing a firearm.

Chancey told the court the state would be seeking the death penalty but, because of its growing backlog, it will take some time for this case to go to trial.

There have been multiple homicides in the last month, according to Chancey.

“I know in some cities that’s not many. But in our small town, that’s a lot,” said Chancey. “I’ve probably got over 60 homicides pending and probably 15 capital murder cases.”

Chancey said he does not see the case going to trial “this year or next year” if proceedings progress at their current pace. He added it could be a month before the Grand Jury’s makes a decision to indict Spurlock or not.

When Spurlock waived his preliminary hearing, his attorney said he fully expected his client to be indicted. Both sides say there was a lot of video evidence in this case.

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