Two Skyline murder suspects have primarily court hearings, more details revealed
HUNTSVILLE – More details of a deadly home invasion in Madison on May 6 were made known Wednesday when two of the suspects appeared in court.
Suspects Hunter Moore and Austin Holmes had their preliminary hearings at the Madison County Courthouse in Huntsville on charges of capital murder in the death of Luke Pratt, who was stabbed to death.
Holmes waived his hearing, but Moore’s hearing continued with details in the case being presented by Madison Police Department investigators.
Investigators said a group of eight men planned the home invasion at a residence on Skyline Drive in Madison. Moore was believed to be the mastermind of the plot to steal cash and drugs from the home. They said he was familiar with the house.
“It required two on each door and drivers and lookouts and they brought pretty much everyone they knew into this tragedy over some weed and an Xbox,” said Madison County Assistant District Attorney Shauna Barnett.
Five men went into the house through the garage while two stayed in the driveway and one was in a truck they used.
The suspects found no drugs in the house, but an Xbox was stolen, police said.
According to investigators, three women rented the home. Pratt was the boyfriend of one of the women.
Police also said Moore shot a man shortly after entering the house. They said the man who was shot, Giovanni Long, was the boyfriend of one of the other women. He struggled with Moore during the attack, and Moore claims the gun went off accidentally during that fight.
Long was treated later for his wound at Huntsville Hospital.
Holmes has admitted to be the one to stab Pratt, investigators said. They said he told them the stabbing occurred as Pratt fought back against Holmes and another suspect.
Madison Police spokesman Capt. John Stringer said at a press conference recently they believe the murder weapon was thrown into the Elk River and has not been recovered.
Even though Holmes is the only one thought to have stabbed Pratt, the other suspects were also charged with murder in addition to burglary because they were involved in a crime of burglary or robbery when the death occurred.
“This case is difficult on all sides. There are lives that are shattered, from victims to victims’ families, but some of these parents have to be absolutely devastated. These young men’s lives are forever going to be altered from this,” Barnett said.
“These young men are all ages 17 to 20,” Madison Police Chief David Jernigan said recently. “These teenagers should be thinking about what they are going to be doing for the summer, what they are going to be doing after high school and entering the workforce. We have all of them, except the fugitive we are looking for, in the Madison County Jail right now. That is very sad.”
The Madison Police has arrested all but one suspect. Kenneth Khesahn Harvey is still being sought. It is believed he is in Florida. Other suspects include Logan Cypret, Hunter Dubois, Caeleb Kegley, Lucas Kemp and Larry Watts.
