Mobile County DA shares more details on indictments in Cailee Knight murder

UPDATE (2:55 p.m.): News 5 has learned more about the indictments of five people in connection with the murder of 9-year-old Cailee Knight.

The two counts of capital murder that the defendants are being charged with are:

• The death of a child under the age of 14
• Shooting into a dwelling

“It’s all one act, but it’s two different ways to arrive at a capital murder indictment,” said District Attorney Keith Blackwood.

“We believe that the three that were charged initially, at least two of them were shooters, potentially three,” Blackwood said. “The role of the other two, as the investigation unfolded, revealed that they had a role as an aiding and abetting aider in a matter in the case.”

“You know, they were there to support what was going on, and we believe knew what was going on,” Blackwood said.

He said that Thier, the fourth person indicted, was involved as her car was allegedly the one used in the shooting that night.

“These cases are always ongoing. The investigations are ongoing. And that role became more clear, and that’s why we chose to present her to the grand jury, as well as the person that’s not been apprehended yet,” Blackwood said regarding Thier’s alleged role in the murder.

The unnamed suspect currently has a secret indictment, and until they are charged, their name will not be released.

“This is something that rocked our community since this happened,” said Blackwood. “Over the last year, we’ve seen shootings in dwellings go down. However, we’re not going to rest until it’s zero.”

“We all deserve to feel safe in our homes, especially with our children,” Blackwood said.

ORIGINAL STORY

MOBILE, Ala. ( WKRG ) — A Mobile County grand jury has indicted five people in the murder of 9-year-old Cailee Knight, according to the district attorney’s office.

22-year-old Arieal Rapheal Curry, 19-year-old Tyrone Deairus Williams, 19-year-old Darius Janoski Lucky Jr. and 19-year-old Ricki Alexandra Thier, along with an unnamed person were indicted in connection with the December 2023 death of Cailee, according to officials.

The fifth person who has been indicted is at large, according to the DA’s office.

The indictment includes:

Arieal Curry

• Two counts of capital murder, attempted murder/shooting into an occupied dwelling

Tyrone Williams

• Two counts of capital murder, attempted murder/shooting into an occupied dwelling

Darius Lucky

• Two counts of capital murder

Ricki Thier

• Two counts of capital murder, attempted murder/shooting into an occupied dwelling

A grand jury upgraded the original murder charges to capital murder.

All four named suspects are being held without bond under Aniah’s Law.

Cailee was killed while she was sleeping on the couch at a home on Rhett Drive in West Mobile.

The shots came from an AR-15, according to Mobile Chief of Staff James Barber, who added that Cailee’s 16-year-old brother was the intended target.

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