Lazarrell Dewayne Fennell was sentenced to life in prison this afternoon for the murder of 31-year-old Deuntae Jarrod Johnson, after Jackson County Circuit Judge John H. Graham described the killing as a horrific, calculated act that put not only Johnson’s life at risk, but the lives of innocent people in the community. The sentencing brought an emotional conclusion to a case that began with Johnson’s shooting death outside Warehouse 207 in Scottsboro on March 31, 2024. Fennell was convicted of Johnson’s murder by a Jackson County jury in May following a five-day trial. The jury deliberated for approximately an hour before returning a unanimous guilty verdict. During Thursday’s sentencing hearing, District Attorney Jason Pierce called Johnson’s mother, Bonita Talley, to the witness stand to give a victim-impact statement.
“I lost my child,” Talley told the court. She said that if Deuntae were still here, he would tell her, “You got this.” “So, I have this,” she said. Talley described her son as beautiful, loving, kind, joyful and full of energy, with a promising future ahead of him. His death, she said, left behind indescribable pain, grief, anger and heartbreak. Deuntae was the father of three boys and two girls, along with two stepchildren ranging in age from 2 to 16. Talley told the court that he was active in his children’s lives. His four brothers and three sisters have also been devastated by his death, she said, while his father continues to grieve deeply. Talley remembered her son’s love of washing cars and one of his favorite sayings: “Shine bright like a diamond.” Talley is currently awaiting a kidney transplant. Deuntae had been her kidney donor match, but he died before the transplant could be completed. His death, she said, has torn through their family. Although Deuntae’s life ended, Talley emphasized that his death did not erase the bonds he shared with his children and family or the place he continues to hold in their lives.
“His life mattered. His death mattered. His name matters,” Talley said. She asked the court to hold Fennell accountable for his actions.
Pierce also read a letter from one of Johnson’s cousins, who described the countless lives impacted by the murder and the ripple effect Johnson’s death has had throughout his family.
During the sentencing phase, Fennell’s defense attorney asked the court to impose a sentence of 35 years. Pierce argued that a 35-year sentence did not adequately reflect the circumstances of Johnson’s murder. The prosecution characterized the killing as not an act of passion, but a premeditated ambush. Pierce argued that Fennell deliberately sought Johnson out, snuck up on him, fired multiple shots and then fled the scene. He described Fennell as a “self-appointed executioner” who committed a cold and calculated act. The prosecution asked Judge Graham to impose the full weight of the law.
Before imposing sentence, Judge Graham asked Fennell to stand. The judge asked if Fennell had anything to say. He did not. Judge Graham then explained that he had given the sentence considerable research, thought and time in prayer. The judge described the crime as horrific. “You hunted Deuntae down,” Judge Graham told Fennell. The judge detailed the lengths he said Fennell went to in order to locate Johnson. While Fennell was incarcerated in a Georgia jail, the judge said he made phone calls to family members, friends and even his children in an effort to determine Johnson’s identity. After that, Fennell went to motels throughout Scottsboro and elsewhere searching for Johnson. Once Johnson was located, the judge said Fennell waited for an opportunity. “You then snuck up on Deuntae, leaving the him with no chance to defend himself,” Graham said. Johnson was shot 10 times in a dark, public location, the judge noted. Graham also emphasized that the shooting did not only endanger Johnson. “So many innocent lives were put at risk,” the judge said.
In delivering the sentence, Judge Graham made clear his view of the seriousness of Fennell’s actions. “Worst among us is you,” the judge said. The judge also stated that the sentence allowed by law was inadequate when compared with the horror Fennell had caused to Johnson, his family and the community. Then Judge Graham delivered a final message to Fennell: “You sentenced yourself to this by your selfish actions.” Fennell was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Deuntae Jarrod Johnson.
