A Lamar County teenager has spent almost a year in jail on a first-degree assault charge, held on a $750,000 bond that his family says he has no hope of paying.
According to Cynthia Gould of ABC 33/40, 19-year-old Marquese Gunter is accused of shooting Travis Smith during a confrontation inside the Sulligent, Alabama apartment Gunter shared with his mother.
His new attorney now wants the case thrown out under Alabama’s Stand Your Ground law – and the bond slashed to something a working family can realistically meet.
Nearly a Year in Jail Before Trial
Gould reports that Gunter was arrested back in January 2025, when he was just 18 years old, and has been locked up in the Lamar County Jail ever since. As of Gould’s report, that’s roughly ten months behind bars with no trial and no ability to make bond.
Gunter’s mother, Vivian Smith, told Gould the time has taken a heavy emotional toll. She said her son had a birthday in October and spent it in jail. “I was hoping he would have been home,” she said, adding that now she’s just hoping he might be out by Christmas.
Smith told Gould that before his arrest, Gunter had no criminal record, had never been violent, and was preparing to start work on his GED.
She described the last year as exhausting and heartbreaking, saying the family simply doesn’t have the means to buy his freedom while the case drags on.
Defense: A Home Intruder, Domestic Violence, and Stand Your Ground
According to court filings summarized by Gould, Gunter’s new attorney, Lonnie Spann, is asking Judge Samuel Junkin to dismiss the case under Alabama’s Stand Your Ground statute.
Spann argues that Gunter acted in lawful self-defense while trying to protect his mother from an intruder who had a history of breaking into their home.
Gould reports that the filings allege Travis Smith – who had been in what documents call a “tumultuous romantic relationship” with Vivian Smith – forced his way into the apartment on the day of the shooting. Court documents also claim Smith had broken in twice before and, on this occasion, would not let Gunter or his mother leave.
Filings further state that Vivian Smith ended up with a broken bone in the incident. When Gould asked her on camera if Marquese was trying to protect her, Smith answered that he was.
She explained that Gunter wasn’t even home when the trouble started, came in on the situation, told the other man to leave several times, and finally “did what he had to do” to protect both of them.
Gould says the defense argues that Gunter reasonably perceived an immediate threat of injury to himself and his mother. Spann told ABC 33/40 that his client fired at a home intruder who was committing domestic violence, and that under those circumstances, Gunter’s actions were justified.
At the same time, Gould notes that Spann acknowledged a potential problem for the defense: he says Gunter made “untrue, even incriminating” statements to law enforcement after the shooting, for reasons that aren’t clear.
The court has approved a mental evaluation, suggesting the defense may raise questions about Gunter’s state of mind when he spoke with investigators.
A Bond Usually Reserved for the Worst Crimes
One of the most controversial parts of the case, as Gould points out, is the size of the bond. Gunter’s bail is set at $750,000 on the single assault charge – an amount Gould says is normally associated with crimes like murder, child molestation, or major drug trafficking, not a first-time offender with no record.
Gould pressed Vivian Smith on some of the standard concerns judges consider with bond. Has he been in trouble before? “No. Never,” she answered. Does he have the means to flee or leave the country? “No,” she said again.
To the family, this isn’t a kid with a dangerous past or a passport and a bank account – it’s a teenager they describe as quiet, rooted, and broke.
Gunter’s attorney has filed a motion arguing the bond is excessive and asking the court to reduce it. The current figure effectively means Gunter will remain in jail until the case is resolved, even though he’s legally presumed innocent.
From a fairness standpoint, Gould’s reporting raises a hard question: if bonds at this level are “mostly” seen in far more severe cases, why is an 18-year-old with no prior record being treated like a major flight risk or career criminal?
That’s not a legal ruling, but it is the kind of disconnect that understandably fuels anger in families and communities.
Friends and Family Say He’s Mild-Mannered, Not Violent
Gould also spoke with people who have known Gunter for years and say his personality doesn’t match the image of a dangerous offender.
His longtime friend Anthony Blaylock described him to ABC 33/40 as “a good, loving, caring person, a very mild-mannered family person.” Blaylock told Gould he believes the bond is “ridiculous,” insisting there are “way worse crimes that have less bond set” and that it makes no sense for a kid with no history to be stuck with an impossible number.
Blaylock also put the shooting in emotional terms any parent or child can understand. “What would any child do,” he asked Gould, “if they walk in and see their mother getting done what happened that day?”
In his view, Gunter reacted the way many sons would when they believe their mother is being attacked in their own home.
Gunter’s cousin Ethan Camp echoed that sentiment in Gould’s report. Camp said he has always known Gunter as a kind, helpful person who avoids conflict.
He told ABC 33/40 that the situation happening inside his own house is a key piece of understanding the case. “He feared for his life and his mother’s life,” Camp said, adding that he believes Gunter handled it “in a way anybody would in that kind of situation.”
Camp also said the long months in jail have been “overwhelming” for Gunter, calling the situation “unfair” and pointing out that the high bond makes it “impossible for him to come home.”
According to Gould, family and friends keep telling Gunter to keep his head up, reminding him, “You’re going to be okay. We’ve got you.”
Victim’s Affidavit and a Quiet Prosecutor
Gould’s investigation turned up another detail that complicates the picture. She reports that people close to the case say Travis Smith – the man who was shot – has signed an affidavit asking that charges not be pursued.
Despite that, the case is still moving forward through the office of District Attorney Andy Hamlin. Gould notes that Hamlin declined to comment, saying he’s unable to discuss the pending prosecution.
It’s not unusual for prosecutors to continue a case even when a victim says they don’t want to press charges, especially in situations involving alleged domestic violence.
The state can argue that public safety, not just the victim’s wishes, should control. But as Gould’s reporting makes clear, it adds another layer of tension for a family that already believes the system is stacked against them.
Gould explains that Gunter’s new attorney, Lonnie Spann, took over the case in mid-October and immediately filed two major motions: a Stand Your Ground dismissal and a bond reduction. A hearing on those motions is scheduled for December 2, 2025, in Judge Junkin’s courtroom.
Stand Your Ground, Self-Defense, and the Bigger Picture
Beyond the personal drama, Gould’s story taps into a larger debate that Alabama – and much of the country – keeps having about Stand Your Ground laws. ABC 33/40 even asked viewers to weigh in via a QR-code poll, asking whether these laws are fair.
Cases like Gunter’s show how messy real-life self-defense claims can be. On paper, prosecutors say he “with intent to cause serious physical injury…caused serious physical injury” to Travis Smith with a firearm.
The defense, as summarized by Gould, says this wasn’t some street fight or random shooting—it was a young man at home, facing a man who allegedly had broken in before, hurt his mother, blocked their escape, and was actively committing domestic violence.
If the facts are as the defense describes, it’s easy to see why Spann is leaning hard on Stand Your Ground. The law is designed for exactly those moments when retreat isn’t realistic, and someone reasonably believes they or their family are in immediate danger.
At the same time, Gould’s mention of Gunter’s “untrue, even incriminating” statements to police is a reminder of how fragile self-defense cases can be when fear, shock, and confusion collide with an interrogation room.
Then there’s the bond. As Gould highlights, $750,000 is the kind of number that doesn’t just ensure someone shows up in court – it effectively locks them up before trial, especially if they’re poor.
When you combine that with a teenager, no record, a claimed self-defense scenario, and a victim who reportedly signed an affidavit against prosecution, it’s not surprising that friends, family, and even neutral observers might see the situation as out of balance.
In the end, as Cynthia Gould repeatedly notes, Gunter is still presumed innocent, and a judge – not the public – will decide whether Stand Your Ground applies and whether that bond stays as is.
But whatever happens in that Lamar County courtroom, this case is already raising uncomfortable questions about how far self-defense protections really go, and whether the price of fighting for your freedom should be measured in dollars most families will never have.
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The article Teen charged in shooting gets impossibly high $750,000 bond despite “Stand Your Ground” claim first appeared on Survival World.
Ed spent his childhood in the backwoods of Maine, where harsh winters taught him the value of survival skills. With a background in bushcraft and off-grid living, Ed has honed his expertise in fire-making, hunting, and wild foraging. He writes from personal experience, sharing practical tips and hands-on techniques to thrive in any outdoor environment. Whether it’s primitive camping or full-scale survival, Ed’s advice is grounded in real-life challenges.
