Auburn shooting suspect arrested

MONTGOMERY — The three-day hunt for a man charged with killing three people near Auburn University ended with the suspect walking up the steps of an Alabama courthouse and peacefully turning himself in to a U.S. Marshal waiting inside.

Hours after his surrender, Desmonte Leonard was being held early Wednesday in a Montgomery jail. He’d been on the run since Saturday, when authorities said he opened fire after a fight over a woman at a pool party. The manhunt was vexing for authorities who first dealt with misinformation from people who know Leonard, then narrowly missed catching him at a Montgomery house they searched for nine hours.

“It’s been a trying case for all law enforcement involved,” Auburn Police Chief Tommy Dawson said in announcing the arrest Tuesday night.

Investigators said they believe the pressure of being on the run had finally gotten to Leonard. A Montgomery defense attorney said she arranged for him to surrender after getting word that his family wanted her help.

Leonard, 22, is charged with three counts of capital murder and he’s accused of wounding three others. The dead included two former Auburn football players; a current player was among the injured.

The Auburn police chief said Leonard appeared to be in good health, but he also declined to say where he had been hiding.

Services for victim Ed Christian will be Saturday at J.E. Mathis Municipal Auditorium in Valdosta.