Selma police to enact tougher penalties for discharging firearms in city limits after increased shootings

An increase of shootings across Selma has police drafting tougher penalties for discharging a firearm in Selma city limits.

Selma Police Detective Javonte Benjamin said the Selma Police Department is currently drafting a new penalty scale that will be announced within the next few days that will make the punishment for shooting in the city stiffer, including for celebratory shooting, which is common on New Year’s Eve.

Benjamin explained that under zero tolerance “shooting in the city limits, even for New Year’s, any law enforcement officer catching you shooting in the city limits, there will be zero tolerance, meaning we will place you under arrest right then at the time of the shooting.”

Ongoing gun violence in Selma’s Ward 7 prompted the effort, including a shooting that had 70 to 80 casings found at a site where some bullets went into a vehicle and a home on Nov. 10. The department would not release more information about the shooting because a juvenile was involved.

Another catalyst was the Oct. 8 shooting death of a 22-year-old Selma man at the corner of Tremont Street and Philpot Avenue that still has no suspect and no arrests. Benjamin asked anyone with information to call Selma Police at 334-876-1260 or 334-876-1220 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or 334-877-3530. Benjamin also said there is a $1,000 cash reward for any information leading to an arrest.

Benjamin recommended that all citizens with home security cameras be sure they are working. These could produce evidence that could catch a criminal. The city camera system installed around town has helped “recover a stolen vehicle and it helped us with a recent traffic accident,” but he said the cameras will also help identify shooters as well.