Viewers watching a Facebook livestream got a firsthand look at an Alabama SWAT team’s takedown of a murder suspect in her home.
Auburn Renee Moore, 36, is accused of being an accomplice in a murder, robbery and kidnapping. Authorities with the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office allege 35-year-old Jordan Cesar Hernandez and Moore broke into a home early Saturday in Moulton, in northern Alabama, intent on robbing the people inside. The home’s occupant, Dustin Grimes, was fatally shot in his bedroom while protecting his wife, a press release said. After stealing items from the house, Hernandez and Moore allegedly kidnapped Grimes’ wife and drove her to an ATM, where they forced her to withdraw cash.
“Seeing the opportunity to escape, she ran for her life and found refuge in a nearby convenience store where she was able to call law enforcement,” the press release said.
Deputies went to the Grimes home, where he was found dead from an apparent gunshot wound.
Grimes’ wife identified Hernandez and Moore as the suspects, and detectives obtained warrants for their arrest. Authorities learned Moore was at a home in nearby Decatur, and the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office SWAT executed the warrant on Saturday night. Sitting on the couch near the front door while holding a Bible in one hand and her phone in the other, Moore narrates as SWAT tries to coax her out of her home.
“Your home is surrounded,” a SWAT member can be heard over a loudspeaker saying. “We need all occupants to make themselves known and exit the building slowly. Open the front door.”
But Moore doesn’t budge and says she doesn’t believe the cops have a warrant and mentions Hernandez isn’t inside the home.
“They said they have a search warrant, but this isn’t how they do it,” she said. “If they had a search warrant, they would knock on the door, right?”
She also asks “the lord” to help her.
“Please, Lord, be with us,” Moore says. “It’s just me and a little kid here right now. Please, Lord, be with us. Allahu Akbar.”
Roughly 10 minutes into the video, someone off-camera says, “They’re coming in.” SWAT breaks down the door a few seconds later, sending the wood frame flying. An officer with a rifle, helmet and goggles shines a flashlight at Moore.
“Show us your hands!” he commands. “Come out with your hands up!”
Moore tells the officers there is a child in the home.
“Leave the child alone,” she says as she walks toward the front door. “You might as well shoot me.”
Officers then take Moore into custody.
“I just have my book in my hand, my Bible,” she said as officers tell her she’s “good.”
The video then ends.
On Sunday, officers with the Decatur Police Department spotted Hernandez in a vehicle and tried to pull him over, but he took off, a press release from the agency said. Hernandez allegedly fired multiple shots at officers during the pursuit.
He eventually crashed and then ran into a wooded area. The Alabama Department of Corrections told AL.com that K-9 units tracked Hernandez for about three miles until they finally took him into custody. He’s also facing an attempted murder charge for allegedly shooting at the police officers.
Hernandez and Moore are in jail, and authorities are looking for a third person whose name has not been released who took part in the murder and robbery.
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