Alabama man charged in Christmas party murder, out on bond for earlier shooting

Published 5:35 pm Thursday, December 17, 2020

An Alabama man charged with murder in a fatal shooting that occurred at a Christmas party was out on bond following another shooting earlier this year, according to authorities and court documents.

James Lee James Jr., 33, was booked into the Mobile jail Wednesday night and charged in the killing of Jaheim Pugh, 19, who was shot to death at a Christmas gathering in Prichard over the weekend. Two other people were injured.

James told reporters he is innocent and will be out of jail soon, but prosecutors are trying to keep him behind bars. Records show James was out on bail after being charged with assault and other offenses following shooting earlier this year, and authorities are asking a judge to revoke that bond.

Authorities haven’t released a possible motive in the party shooting, but the victim’s mother, Tiffany Pugh, told news outlets she believes her son was killed because he wore women’s clothing, including on the night he was shot.

“People hated him because of what he wore and it’s not right,” she told WALA-TV.