Public protest for Charlie Donwell

Family and friends gathered downtown today for a loved one they believe was ambushed.

“We’re here for Charlie Donwell. The public knows him by ‘Little Charlie’. He was the young man that was rammed with the wrecker truck and killed about a week before Christmas. No one was held accountable for his murder. Me and the family believe that he was ambushed and set up and murdered." Vennia Allen said.

Allen claims the man who was driving the truck is guilty and needs to be held accountable.

“We know the parties involved. There’s never been a point where we didn’t know that information. That’s not the issue. When we charge an individual in this community with violation of the law, we have to be able to prove that the individual violated that law. That is where we have to look at the elements of the law to see that all of those elements were met, then we will make an arrest.” Allen added.

“This man needs to be incarcerated, he needs to be held accountable, and if he’s found guilty he needs to go to maximum. Because this young man deserves to live, he deserves to live." Allen explained. " He had kids and had a mother and a father. He was a human being. He was shot down like a dog, and the family wants some action. That’s what they want. They want action.”

“The department currently has an on-going death investigation into the incident. There has not been an arrest made because based upon the investigation at this point, there has not been enough evidence, that we believe, to arrest an individual for a crime. The investigation is still in its early stages. We are waiting for information to come back from the state crime lab, and we will proceed as the evidence gives guidance.” Chief Deputy Ward Calhoun with the Lauderdale County sheriff's department said.