Suspect held without bond, victim identified in Bay Minette murder

BAY MINETTE, Ala. ( WKRG ) — 37-year-old Dwight Pettway was back before a judge Monday afternoon after shots rang out Saturday night at a gathering on East Banyan Street.

“There were two officers one block away on a traffic stop. They heard the shots even before the 911 calls came in,” said Bay Minette Police Chief Al Tolbert.

According to investigators Pettway and Dewayne Brown were playing cards, got into an argument and Brown was leaving when multiple shots were fired.

“Not only did he murder Mr. Brown, he put numerous other people in danger of their lives,” said Tolbert.

Tolbert says Pettway has a lengthy criminal record and was out on bond and wearing an ankle monitor from a previous arrest allowing investigators to track his movements after the shooting and recover a gun they believed was used in the shooting.

“He has proven to be a habitual offender with firearms prior to this murder that he committed Saturday night,” said Tolbert.

Bond was set at $500 thousand on the murder charge but Pettway will not be getting out of jail anytime soon, as a bond revocation hearing is set for later this month on his previous arrest.

“Mr. Pettway put a lot of people in danger that night,” said Tolbert.

Pettway was convicted in 2016 on federal gun charges. Federal authorities are now taking a look at his December arrest on weapons charges.

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