Woodlawn Football Star's Murder Case Goes to Grand Jury

BIRMINGHAM, AL - The suspect accused of murdering Woodlawn High School football captain William Edwards will go before a grand jury, after Judge Teresa Pulliam made a ruling last week. Roderick Hodges, 17, was charged with murder less than two weeks after the incident occurred September 1.

Related story: Woodlawn High School Student Shot And Killed Saturday Morning

Hodges is charged with capital murder. Police have not said what led to the arrest of Hodges nor released a motive in the slaying. Edwards' mother said she was told Hodges and her son did not know each other, and that Hodges said he was paid to shoot William.

Edwards was pronounced dead about 12:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 1, at the family's 80th Street North home. Birmingham police said he was killed by bullets fired from outside the home, and they didn't believe the shooting was random. (For more updates on this story and free news alerts for your neighborhood, sign up for your local Patch morning newsletter.)

To make matters worse for the Edwards family, the home of the victim was burglarized Sept. 21 and Edwards' room was ransacked. The thieves took most of Edwards' belongings in the robbery.

Photo via Jefferson County Jail