(Editor’s note: This story first published at the Montgomery Advertiser, part of the USA TODAY Network.)
Aniah Blanchard “went for the gun” before she was shot, according to affidavits charging Ibraheem Yazeed with two counts of capital murder, one in connection to the teen’s kidnapping and another in connection to shooting her inside her car.
The court records were filed Wednesday, the Montgomery Advertiser reported.
According to an arrest affidavit, Yazeed was captured on video surveillance in a convenience store in Auburn, Ala., at the same time Blanchard was. A witness then observed Yazeed interacting with Blanchard near her vehicle in front of the convenience store, according to court records.
Another gas station’s surveillance then captured Yazeed exiting the passenger side of Blanchard’s vehicle and later re-entering the vehicle. Her car was last seen traveling south on South College Street toward the interstate, according to court records.
A person was located by police who said “Yazeed was seen at a residence in Montgomery wearing only shorts, with a gun tucked into the shorts,” according to the affidavit. The court records did not identify this person.
Yazeed was in possession of Blanchard’s vehicle, though the person did not see the teen, according to the court records.
“The subject further advised during a subsequent conversation with Yazeed, Yazeed admitted to shooting a girl, and stated the girl ‘went for the gun,’” according to the documents.
Lee County District Attorney Brandon Hughes said Monday that Yazeed, 29, would face a capital murder charge and also the death penalty in the disappearance and murder of the 19-year-old Blanchard.
“The process of seeing justice done for Aniah and her family will not be swift, but I can promise it will be thorough,” Hughes said during a news conference.
Blanchard, a student at Southern Union State Community College, was last seen on video surveillance footage at a convenience store on Oct. 23. The next day her family reported her missing. She is the stepdaughter of UFC heavyweight fighter Walt Harris. Harris was scheduled to fight Saturday in the UFC on ESPN 7 main event, but withdrew from the bout not long after Blanchard first disappeared.
Her car was recovered at a Montgomery apartment complex, 55 miles west of her last known location, a few days later, and contained evidence of “a life-threatening amount of blood.”
At the Monday press conference, Hughes said at that an autopsy revealed Blanchard had been shot to death.
Antwain “Squirmy” Fisher, 35, was charged with first-degree kidnapping for aiding Yazeed by giving him a ride and disposing of evidence, according to court records. Hours after Fisher appeared in court for the first time, Blanchard’s remains were discovered and 63-year-old David Lee Johnson Jr. was charged with hindering prosecution in connection to the case.
Yazeed, however, was the sole person responsible for Blanchard’s abduction and death, Hughes said.
At the time of Blanchard’s kidnapping, Yazeed was free on a $295,000 bond on charges of kidnapping, attempted murder, robbery and possession of marijuana in connection with the beating of two men in a Montgomery hotel in January. He’ll appear in court Thursday in Montgomery to face a bond revocation hearing on the January charges.
Fisher pleaded guilty to felony murder in 2007 and served three years in prison with 17 years suspended.
A Lee County Judge last month ordered Yazeed held without bond and also ordered him to submit to a DNA test, to compare against a sample found in Blanchard’s car. Fisher is scheduled to appear at a preliminary hearing on Dec. 18.
A gag order has been imposed on attorneys, prosecutors and witnesses in the case. Alabama media organizations, including the Montgomery Advertiser, are challenging the order. A hearing is set for Wednesday.
Aniah Blanchard fought back and 'went for the gun,' according to court records