HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. (WNCN) – Two men charged with murder in the case of a 1-year-old Chapel Hill girl who was shot Christmas Day appeared in an Orange County courtroom Tuesday afternoon and were given no bond.
About 20 deputies were in the courtroom in anticipation of the appearance after the stunning killing in Chapel Hill. Maleah Williams was shot in the head after shots were fired from a vehicle leaving an apartment complex on Trinity Court just before 5:45 p.m. on Christmas, family members and police said.
Williams died Monday at UNC Hospitals.
One suspect was arrested Sunday. On Monday, two more men were charged — this time with first-degree murder, police said.
Monday, Ramone Jamarr Alston, 22, was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Joint Fugitive Task Force. Alston has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting after being arrested in the 600 block of Jones Ferry Road in Carrboro, Chapel Hill Police said.
Also on Monday, a third suspect, Pierre Je Bron Moore, 23, was charged with first-degree murder after surrendering himself at the Chapel Hill Police Department.
Alston and Moore are being held without bond.
“You’ve got the right to remain silent. You shouldn’t talk to anybody except your assigned attorney about the matter. The maximum penalty possible is capital punishment or life in prison,” Judge Joseph Buckner told the suspects.
A man who said he knew two of the suspects and the victim’s mother said, “It’s a messed up situation, especially at the holidays.”
He declined to give his name when speaking with WNCN Tuesday morning.
In addition to Tuesday’s appearance, both Moore and Alston had three court dates already scheduled in 2016. Moore has scheduled appearances on Jan. 11, Jan. 16, and April 18. Alston’s dates are set for Jan. 14, Jan. 20, and Jan. 25.
Alston is set to appear in court on various charges ranging from cruelty to animals to possession of stolen goods to failing to wear a seat belt.
Moore’s court appearances are for charges including resisting officers, drug charges, carrying a concealed weapon and driving without a license.
Moore and Alston both have prior convictions dating back to 2012. Moore was convicted in 2012 and 2014 of breaking and entering, as well as larceny.
Alston had convictions in 2012, 2013 and 2014 for crimes including drugs, eluding arrests, breaking and entering, and larceny.
The first suspect arrested, Shaquille O’Neill Davis, 22, was nabbed just before noon Sunday by the U.S. Marshals Joint Fugitive Task Force, Chapel Hill Police said.
Davis appeared in court Monday via video feed on charges of attempted first-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury. His charges are expected to be upgraded to first-degree murder now that Williams has died.
“A lot of information has come in since the first suspect was arrested. It’s been very fluid. We’re evaluating the information now because information does not always turn out to be evidence,” said Orange County District Attorney Jim Woodall.
The judge added two conditions Monday to Davis’ $650,000 bond – he must not have any contact with the victim’s family and he cannot possess a firearm.
He is scheduled to appear in court again Jan. 4 in relation to the Dec. 25 shooting.
Davis is scheduled to appear in Orange County court Jan. 15 on five unrelated charges ranging from drug possession/selling to probation violations.
RELATED: GoFundMe setup for Maleah
A collection of toys, candles and notes – praying for Maleah to get well, had been set up in the area near the apartment where she was shot.
