Teen charged as adult in homicide No prior argument between shooter and victim

A 16-year-old boy will be tried in Superior Court for murder after fatally shooting another teenaged boy at a Rossville residence where adults and teens were drinking alcohol.

Matthew Jeol Durham, of Rossville was arraigned Monday, June 12, in Juvenile Court where it was decided that he will be tried as an adult for the murder of Christopher Colby Estes, also 16.

Walker County Sheriff Steve Wilson said that at about 10:45 p.m. on Thursday, June 8, deputies arrived at 710C Shelly Lane and found the lifeless body of Estes.

The victim did not live at the Shelly Lane address.

An investigation revealed that a group of individuals were gathered on the porch when Durham pulled a firearm from his backpack, aimed and fired a shot that killed Estes.

Wilson said Durham and Estes knew each other but there was no evidence to indicate the two argued prior to the shooting.

Once the shot was fired, Durham fled the scene.

Durham’s mother brought her son to the Department of Juvenile Justice in LaFayette the following afternoon.

After a warrant for his arrest was issued, Durham was taken into custody at the public defenders office in LaFayette around 6 p.m. that same Friday.

Possible charges could be filed against the adults for providing alcohol to minors, the sheriff said, adding that alcohol was a contributing factor to the incident.

Wilson said it is possible the suspect did not know the gun was loaded.

The families of Durham and Estes left the courtroom together after an emotional first hearing. No bond has been set at this time.