GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — A high school basketball standout implicated in a deadly shooting remains in jail, but maybe not for long.
A judge granted bail for the teenager Tuesday afternoon.
The family of Alex Powell, 17, are rushing to get the money or property needed for the bond. Their hope is to get him home for Thanksgiving, and this has made the victim's mother livid.
Connor granted the unusually high bond, insisting the 7-foot-tall high school basketball player be under house arrest except for work or church.
“I'm going to set the bond at $500,000. It's big because this is a big case,” Gwinnett County Chief Judge Melodie Snell Connor said.
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The decision came in front of a packed courtroom of supporters.
Powell's former high school basketball coach testified Powell has a bright future ahead of him and already had three division one scholarship offers as a freshman.
“I would have never imagined anything like this coming about,” former coach Eddie Hood said.
Powell is accused of armed robbery and aggravated assault in connection with the murder of Akeem Turner, 21, last month.
Duluth police say he was killed during a set up robbery at this apartment complex. Powell led police to the other suspects in the case and reached a deal to avoid a murder charge.
“I’m confused, I'm angry and I’m distraught,” mother Tonii Turner said. “I don’t' understand how this happened,”
Because of a scheduling mishap, Turner’s mother missed the bond hearing. She had planned to address the court and can't believe it was granted.