voiceofreason
Senior News Editor since 2011
http://wiat.com/2015/10/07/four-tuscaloosa-men-arrested-charged-in-alleged-rape-of-22-year-old/
3 of 4 suspects in alleged Tuscaloosa rape are UA students
Updated: October 7, 2015, 7:48 pm
USCALOOSA, Ala. (WIAT) — Four men have been arrested for allegedly gang raping a Shelton State Community College student at a party in a Tuscaloosa apartment complex.
Three of the suspects are University of Alabama students. Investigators tell WIAT 42 that the party-goers, including the victim, were knowingly drinking a mixture of fruit punch and Xanax.
Investigators believe one of the suspects, 25-year-old De’Andre Dussett, had put the prescription medication in a drink that was being passed around. The victim, a 22-year-old woman, eventually passed out. That’s when eyewitnesses say the four men took advantage of her.
Dussett, Donald King, 20; Eddie Harris Jr., 19 and Fredrick Shaw, 18; have all been charged with rape in the first degree. King, Harris, and Shaw have also been referred to the University of Alabama’s Office of Student Conduct, and have been given interim sanctions.`
“A couple of them [the suspects] have given us information that they were aware that she was unconscious,” said Captain Gary Hood with the Tuscaloosa Metro Homicide Unit.
According to investigators, the victim has no memory of the sexual assaults. “The last thing she remembers was falling asleep on the couch, or in the living room, and the next thing she recalled was waking up in the hospital,” explained Hood.
However, some eyewitnesses claim they saw the acts taking place. WIAT 42 asked what they did when they saw the victim with the suspects. “One witness just turned away and closed the door,” said Hood, “went out and left the room.” Hood explains that investigators aren’t sure if these eyewitness necessarily knew what they were seeing. “We don’t know to what extent they knew about what was going on — If they knew that she was totally unconscious.”
Eyewitnesses found the victim, still unresponsive in the bedroom, on Tuesday morning. She was taken to DCH Medical Center. Investigators say she did have some injuries that they believe are the result of the sexual assaults.
Dussett has also been charged with possession of a controlled substance. He may face other charges from the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force at a later date.
3 of 4 suspects in alleged Tuscaloosa rape are UA students
Updated: October 7, 2015, 7:48 pm
USCALOOSA, Ala. (WIAT) — Four men have been arrested for allegedly gang raping a Shelton State Community College student at a party in a Tuscaloosa apartment complex.
Three of the suspects are University of Alabama students. Investigators tell WIAT 42 that the party-goers, including the victim, were knowingly drinking a mixture of fruit punch and Xanax.
Investigators believe one of the suspects, 25-year-old De’Andre Dussett, had put the prescription medication in a drink that was being passed around. The victim, a 22-year-old woman, eventually passed out. That’s when eyewitnesses say the four men took advantage of her.
Dussett, Donald King, 20; Eddie Harris Jr., 19 and Fredrick Shaw, 18; have all been charged with rape in the first degree. King, Harris, and Shaw have also been referred to the University of Alabama’s Office of Student Conduct, and have been given interim sanctions.`
“A couple of them [the suspects] have given us information that they were aware that she was unconscious,” said Captain Gary Hood with the Tuscaloosa Metro Homicide Unit.
According to investigators, the victim has no memory of the sexual assaults. “The last thing she remembers was falling asleep on the couch, or in the living room, and the next thing she recalled was waking up in the hospital,” explained Hood.
However, some eyewitnesses claim they saw the acts taking place. WIAT 42 asked what they did when they saw the victim with the suspects. “One witness just turned away and closed the door,” said Hood, “went out and left the room.” Hood explains that investigators aren’t sure if these eyewitness necessarily knew what they were seeing. “We don’t know to what extent they knew about what was going on — If they knew that she was totally unconscious.”
Eyewitnesses found the victim, still unresponsive in the bedroom, on Tuesday morning. She was taken to DCH Medical Center. Investigators say she did have some injuries that they believe are the result of the sexual assaults.
Dussett has also been charged with possession of a controlled substance. He may face other charges from the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force at a later date.