Family of Atmore murder victim reacts to suspect arrested while under house arrest

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) – It’s been more than a year since Jatyrian Tolbert was shot and killed on Brooks Lane in Atmore.

Investigators say Tolbert was in his car when he was shot multiple times. Tamarra Tolbert, Jatyrian’s mother, says her son leaves behind two young daughters. His two daughters just celebrated their birthdays.

“It’s not fair that the only way to see my son is through a photograph. It’s not fair that when I go into my son’s room he’s not there,” Tolbert said. “They are a day apart, so yesterday we celebrated one and today we celebrated another. They were back-to-back emotions. With everything going on, it was an emotional day.”

Antonio Pettaway of Mobile was charged with murder in connection with Jatyrian’s death and was indicted last November.

Court records show Pettaway’s bond was originally set at $500,000, but overtime, a judge continued to lower the bond. Court documents reveal Pettaway was released on $75,000 in May and placed under house arrest.

This week, MPD says Pettaway allegedly opened fire last Friday on Holcombe Avenue in Mobile. No one was hit, but an empty vehicle was hit. Jatyrian’s mother says she wants to see justice for her son.

“We’d love to see him put away. We’d love to see him charged with capital murder,” Tolbert said. “This is a person who was linked with another firearm trying to kill someone else, so how many chances are they going to give him until he kills someone else’s son or daughter?”

According to Escambia County Alabama District Attorney Stephen Billy, a state hearing was held for Pettaway on Oct. 17. Billy says Pettaway’s attorney just responded that the case wasn’t ready for trial.

“There were several motions to reduce bail filed and each one was granted over the state’s objection,” Billy said. “Pettaway was out on bond in another firearms case in Mobile when he committed this crime and it was still reduced. He was supposed to be under house arrest in Mobile, which we objected to because there was no way control it

Pettaway has a bond hearing set for Monday.

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