What led to Kenneth Dion Lever shooting three persons dead at a Gardendale, Alabama mobile home park? On the run with a violent history of criminal offense.
Kenneth Dion Lever a 52 year old Florida man has been identified as the suspect responsible for the Gardendale shooting in Alabama which left 3 people dead.
A report via AL described the wanted man, who is now on the run being 5’10, weighing 220 pounds and having blue eyes and brown hair.
Told police, ‘If you see this individual do not approach and call 9-1-1. He is considered armed and dangerous.’
Police action to bring the man to custody comes after Lever allegedly shot dead three individuals, two adult women and one adult man, Wednesday morning at a mobile home park.
The incident happened in the 4100 block of Willow Bend Drive in the Peachtree Crossings community shortly after 8 a.m. Police believe the shooting was domestic-related.
BREAKING: active shooter in Gardendale, AL. Police looking for Kenneth Dion Lever 5’10” 220 lbs, considered armed & dangerous. pic.twitter.com/STzlPehNx6
— Beth Shelburne (@bshelburne) July 12, 2017
ACTIVE SHOOTER: This is happening off of Glenn Chapel Rd. at the Peachtree Crossing Trailer Park in #Gardendale @WIAT42 pic.twitter.com/lE5ANOHXk6
— Alex Finnie (@AlexCFinnie) July 12, 2017
Police said the suspect, armed with handgun, fled into the woods. A perimeter is being established. Lever was described as having blonde hair, blue eyes and was wearing a camouflage t-shirt and blue jeans, according to a BOLO on police radio.
His car was found off of Glenn Chapel Road, on the backside of the mobile home park.
The suspect’s vehicle is a black 2007 Lincoln Navigator with Florida tag # 689NFN.
Gardendale police, Birmingham, Homewood, Warrior, Kimberly police and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office have set up a perimeter. A sheriff’s tracking dog is on the ground, and an Alabama Law Enforcement Agency helicopter is circling overhead.
Police issued this statement just before 9:30 a.m.: ‘Gardendale Police Department is working an active shooter situation at Glenn Chapel Rd. and Willow Bend Dr. We ask that all citizens in this the Peach Tree community shelter in place. More information to follow.’
Gardendale Police Department is working an active shooter situation at Glenn Chapel Rd. and Willow Bend Dr. We… https://t.co/hHMI0LlLy1
— Gardendale Police (@GardendalePD) July 12, 2017
Of note, the shooting comes after Lever had been previously served an order of protection notice in December 2016 in Jefferson County.
At the time, Lever’s wife ex-wife claimed that the man was abusing her 11-year-old daughter during unsupervised visitation. The girl, according to public records, had been seeing a therapist and the therapist called the mother with concerns. ‘My daughter has a different disposition when she returns home,’ the woman wrote.
Adding, ‘She is very clingy to me and will not let me leaver her. She wants to sleep in my bed and she wants to sleep with the lights on.’
But it gets grimmer.
According to that PFA request and other public records, Lever has charges pending in Pennsylvania for sexual abuse with a minor.
Lever was charged by Lower Windsor Township Police, York County, Pa., on Sept. 28, 2015 and Oct. 13, 2015 in two separate sexual assault cases, according to records obtained by The York Daily Record.
In both cases, Lever was charged with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, aggravated indecent assault of a child, indecent assault person less than 13 years of age, corruption of minors, and distribution of explicit sexual material of a minor.
Lever was placed in York County Prison on Oct. 12, 2015, on the first case on $100,000 and was bailed out the next day. He was again jailed on Oct. 15, and posted an additional $100,000 and released later the same day.
The cases are scheduled for jury trial in York County Court of Common Pleas on Sept. 11, according to online court dockets.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
