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By Fred Guarino

The Lowndes Signal

The Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office personnel, Central Alabama CrimeStoppers, family members, Lowndes County District Attorney Charlotte Tesmer and Lowndes County Chief Assistant District Attorney Steve Townes were on hand at the John Hulett Detention Facility in Hayneville Wednesday to announce an increase in the award from $6,000 to $13,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for a double homicide in Mosses on Feb. 3, 2017.

On February 3, 2017, the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office received a call of shots fired in the area of Mosses Public Housing at 9:28 p.m. Patrol Deputies were dispatched and arrived on the scene at 9:38 p.m. where they observed a subject slumped over the steering wheel of a car parked on Williams Drive in the Mosses community.

After further investigation, it was determined that the occupants of the vehicle, Frank James Hill, 26, and Antoni Markee Means, 36, had been shot while inside the vehicle by some unknown subjects. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.

The Governor’s Office by proclamation of Governor Kay Ivey has offered a $10,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of the offenders.  The Lowndes County Commission has offered a $2,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of the offenders. And Central Alabama CrimeStoppers has offered a $1,000 reward to be paid within 3o days of the arrest.

Anyone with any information regarding this crime is asked to please immediately call the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office at 334-548-2222, 334-548-2323 or Crime Stoppers at 215-STOP.

Tesmer said, “We are hoping with the increase that those who may know something about the crime will come forward especially hear at Thanksgiving and holiday season. You’ve got two families that won’t have their loved ones with them. And we’re hoping that maybe their heart will be heavy if they know something and maybe that will encourage them to come to law enforcement and share their information.”

Cherrie Means, mother of Antoni Means told the Signal, “I won’t see any peace until I get some justice… they find out who did this.”

Lowndes County Sheriff John Williams said, “The person or persons responsible have still not been brought to justice. We have several leads that we are looking into, but still need the public’s help in closing this case.”

Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Lenny Lee said, “What we’ve done… we’ve committed all our energy. We’ve talked to several individuals that we suspect may be involved in this crime, but we still haven’t had the solid information that we need to bring these people to justice.” He also asked anyone with information to come forward.

Shemiko Means, wife of Antoni Means said, “Right now I am pleading that anybody out there that has any information please come forward. It’s my family today, but it could be your family tomorrow. So, if you’ve got any information please come forward.”

Also on hand were Courtney Hill, Frank Hill’s sister, and Theodore Williams, uncle of Frank Hill.

Also present was Tony A. Garrett, executive director of Central Alabama CrimeStoppers.