Alabama Teen Kills Neighbor

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A teen neighbor of an elderly Korean War veteran found burned to death in the back yard of his North Birmingham home is now charged in the brutal slaying. Thomas Sims, an 18-year-old already awaiting trial in connection with an armed carjacking earlier this year, is charged with capital murder and held on no bond. He is charged in the killing of 85-year-old Gene Emory Dacus, affectionately called "Mr. Gene" by his neighbors.

Authorities said the capital murder charge stems from the theft of the victim's truck. Detectives are actively searching for a second suspect. "We'd appreciate it if he would go ahead and turn himself in,'' said Birmingham police Lt. Sean Edwards. "This heinous act was totally senseless and totally unnecessary. Based on Mr. Dacus' reputation, he would have given you his last." "It's disheartening to see someone this young go to this level of violence,'' Edwards said. "To me, what he did to that elderly gentleman is evil at its finest." Birmingham police were called to Dacus' home on 33rd Avenue North Wednesday morning around 12:30 a.m. after receiving calls about a person on fire.

When they arrived on the scene, they found the elderly man burned in the back of his home. He was pronounced dead on the scene. Edwards said witnesses told police they saw a fire in the yard before seeing a man running down a nearby alley with a red gasoline jug. Police arrested that man a short distance from the crime scene.

Edwards said that the preliminary investigation shows the suspect and the victim had an argument, before the victim was doused with gasoline and set on fire.

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