FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 9, 2026
MOBILE, Alabama – A Mobile County jury has found Darius Lucky Jr. guilty of Capital Murder in the tragic and senseless killing of 9-year-old Cailee Knight, announced Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood.
Lucky, the first of five co-defendants to stand trial, was convicted of Capital Murder – Shooting into an Occupied Dwelling and Capital Murder – Victim Less Than 14 Years of Age.
The convictions stem from the December 5, 2023, shooting in which Lucky and his co-defendants shot into a residence where Cailee Knight was sleeping on the couch.
District Attorney Keith Blackwood issued the following statement:
“This was not just a crime, it was an act of pure, avoidable evil that stole the life of a child who should still be here today. Cailee Knight was exactly where she was supposed to be – safe at home and asleep. Today’s verdict is a step toward justice, but there is no verdict that can ever restore what was taken from her family. What it does do is ensure accountability. It sends a clear message that in Mobile County, we will relentlessly pursue those who bring this kind of violence into our neighborhoods.
Our hearts remain with Cailee’s family. We have walked this road with them, and we will continue to stand beside them through sentencing and as we prosecute Lucky’s co-defendants. They have shown incredible strength in the face of unimaginable loss.”
The State of Alabama was represented by District Attorney Keith Blackwood, Assistant District Attorney Madison Davis, Trial Coordinator Amanda Sumrall and Victim Service Officer Leigha Arthur.
Blackwood extends his appreciation to the Mobile Police Department, with special recognition to Detective Jermaine Rogers for his work in investigating this case and helping bring it to a successful prosecution.
Sentencing is set for May 21, 2026, where Lucky faces the only possible punishment under Alabama law for these convictions: Life Without the Possibility of Parole.