Discovery Middle shooting suspect back in county jail

The 15-year-old boy accused of shooting and killing Discovery Middle School classmate Todd Brown Feb. 5 is back in the Madison County Jail after spending a month at Bryce Hospital in Tuscaloosa.

Hammad Memon has been charged with the murder of Brown, 14, and is currently being held on a $75,000 bond.

Memon was transferred to the psychiatric hospital in August after District Judge Lynn Sherrod ordered the teen to undergo a complete mental evaluation.

Memon was placed in solitary confinement under suicide watch shortly after a July 2 ruling that he be tried as an adult.

Memon’s attorney, Bruce Gardner, said he plans to appeal the ruling of transferring the case to an adult court, as he believes the ruling was premature.

“Our argument is going to be that the judge put the cart before the horse,” Gardner said. “He was certified when he should have been hospitalized, first.”

Gardner said he has not spoken to his client since he was transferred back to the county jail Oct. 5, but he said Memon has been doing better since he was evaluated at Bryce.

Although Memon’s parents have not bonded out the 15-year-old, Gardner said it is his advice to bond the teen out.

“He’s too young to be in there,” Gardner said.

And although Memon is accused of shooting and killing Brown between classes at DMS, Gardner said he does not believe Memon would be a danger to anybody else.

“I don’t think he would be a danger to anyone but himself, but I think we are past that,” Gardner said.

If released, Memon would not be allowed to make contact or attend any Madison school or school-related event.

Memon, who is of Pakistani descent, would also be required to surrender his passport.