The Montgomery Police Chief, Darryl J. Albert, revealed that arrest warrants had been issued for three men involved in the pontoon boat, identified as Richard Roberts, Allen Todd, and Zachary Shipman.
The charges included counts of third-degree assault. One of the suspects has already surrendered and is in custody, while the others were expected to follow suit.
The investigation, however, is far from concluded, as authorities continue to interview witnesses and analyze video footage to determine if additional charges are warranted.
The brawl’s racial undertones cannot be overlooked. The brawl occurred in a city with a deeply rooted history of racial violence. Montgomery’s past is marked by its role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade over 100 years ago.
The riverfront where the fight broke out is where slaveowners once unloaded enslaved people from steamboats to be sold.
The investigation continues
Investigators, in collaboration with the FBI, explored the possibility of charging the individuals involved with hate crimes or inciting a riot. However, the evidence did not meet the criteria for such charges.
