Masked man shot in head during Avondale armed robbery charged with murder of alleged accomplice

A masked gunman who survived a gunshot wound to the head during a robbery in Birmingham has been charged over the death of his alleged accomplice.

Ladarrion Raemon Copes, 29, is charged with murder in the June 21 shooting death of Rufus Brock, 34.

He is also charged with attempted murder resulting in injuries to the robbery victim.

Authorities said Copes and Brock — who was also wearing a nylon mask — were trying to rob another man of drugs when the gunfire occurred at an Avondale apartment building.

The robbery victim has not been charged with any crime. The Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office ruled that the killing of her attacker was justified.

Copes, who suffered head trauma and was initially pronounced dead by police shortly after the shooting, has been held in the Jefferson County Jail since his release from UAB Hospital in late July.

Copes is charged under the state’s aggravated murder law, which allows a person to be charged with murder if they participate in a serious crime that results in death, whether or not that person actually fired the fatal shot.

Wearing a hard hat, Copes appeared before Jefferson County District Judge William Bell on Wednesday for a preliminary hearing.

At the end of the trial, Bell ruled that there was sufficient probable cause to refer the case to a grand jury for indictment.

The judge also refused to reduce Copes’ bail, over the objection of her attorney who said the jail was not equipped to meet Copes’ medical needs, which she said still put her life in danger.

The shooting happened around 11 a.m. that Friday in the parking lot of the Oak Tree Apartments in the 4400 block of Fifth Avenue South.

Brock was pronounced dead at the scene, still wearing a mask, on the ground near the tire of a work truck.

Copes was taken to UAB Hospital where authorities initially said he died. Authorities later said medical personnel were able to resuscitate Copes.

The victim of the robbery was also injured in the shooting. His life is not in danger.

Detective Jarvelius Tolliver of Birmingham’s homicide squad was the only witness at Wednesday’s hearing. He said part of the incident was caught on a neighbour’s CCTV camera.

Tolliver testified that according to the video and evidence, the robbery victim — who lived in the apartment building — pulled into his parking lot that morning and backed into a parking spot that was next to a white work van.

As the robbery victim was getting out of his Nissan SUV, a Ford Explorer pulled up in front of the Nissan.

A masked man dressed entirely in black – whom Tolliver said was Copes – exited the Explorer and approached the victim.

“You could hear screaming and then gunshots,” Tolliver said.

A second masked man – later identified as Brock – exited the Explorer about 15 seconds later and more shots were fired.

The robbery victim grabbed his gun and returned fire, police said.

Brock, who was shot in the face and neck, collapsed in front of the work truck where he died.

Copes, who suffered gunshot wounds to the head and pelvis, was rushed to UAB Hospital.

The Explorer fled the scene, leaving Copes and Brock behind. Tolliver testified that the Explorer was a rental vehicle, and did not say whether investigators identified or arrested the driver.

The victim of the robbery, injured in both legs, was found near the road, next to keys and a firearm, and also taken to hospital.

Police found vacuum-packed marijuana inside and outside the victim’s Nissan.

The victim told investigators the two masked men were trying to rob him. Authorities have not said whether Brock and Copes knew the robbery victim.

Authorities recovered three weapons at the crime scene, including a rifle that Tolliver said Brock brandished and fired.

Jefferson County Assistant Prosecutor Charissa Henrich said it was clear Brock was killed during an armed robbery attempt that he and Copes were carrying out.

Copes’ attorney, Catelyn Swindall of the Jefferson County Public Defender’s Office, said she did not believe prosecutors had proven their case against her client and asked that the cases be dismissed.

“Based on all the evidence I have heard today, I will dismiss the cases,” the judge said.

Copes has been held in the county jail since July 25 on a total bail of $310,000.

Swindall asked that bail be reduced to $30,000.

“He suffered severe head trauma and an abdominal injury,” Swindall said, noting the helmet he is forced to wear because his head is still “unprotected.”

The defense attorney said prison officials told her they couldn’t provide the intensive care and therapy Copes needed. She said he needed such intensive care that he would have to be placed in a skilled nursing facility.

“Mr. Copes is unable to care for himself,” Swindall said. “He’s unable to even go to the bathroom by himself. He requires 24-hour care,” which his family was willing to provide, she added.

Henrich opposed a bail reduction, citing Copes’ criminal history, which includes a 2018 capital murder acquittal, and said he has open felony cases in the Bessemer Cutoff and has previously been charged with failure to appear.

“I understand that he was injured,” Henrich said, “but he would not have been shot if he had not committed a robbery.”

“I think he would be a danger to any skilled nursing facility,” she said.

Bell said that after considering several factors — including prior convictions and the seriousness of his new charges — Copes’ bail will remain at $310,000.

“The prison is going to have to figure out how to take care of you,” he said.