Charleston Wells
A 16-year-old Bessemer boy today was charged with murder in connection with the Jan. 5 shooting death of 33-year-old Mike Gilotti of Hoover as Gilotti left his Lake Cyrus house early in the morning to go work out, authorities said this afternoon.
The boy was identified as Charleston Everett Wells, and Hoover police said he was captured in Bessemer Wednesday by the U.S. Marshal’s Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force and has been held in custody in Tuscaloosa County since that time on charges related to car break-ins and the theft of a pickup truck.
Wells is being held without bond and is being charged as an adult, police said.
There are at least three other suspects in the 16-20 age range that are in custody but have not been charged in relation to the Lake Cyrus homicide, police Capt. Gregg Rector said.
“No one else today has been charged with murder, but several of the suspects likely involved in the Hoover case are in jail in various jurisdictions throughout the Birmingham-metro area, and they are certainly high on our suspect list,” Rector said today at a press conference at the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office in Bessemer.
On Jan. 5, Gilotti was leaving his home for the gym around 5 a.m. when he was shot and killed outside in his driveway.
“Mike Gilotti, 33 years old, minding his own business. He’s a hard-working guy, he’s got a family, he’s got two small boys,” Rector said. “He’s simply getting up ealrly in the morning to go for a workout and then go for his job, and he runs into a group of car burglars who instead of running and fleeing like you would expect them to do, these individuals obviously turned on him, shot him and he dies in front of his house.”
Erica Techo
Press conference
Hoover PD Capt. Gregg Rector speaking at a press conference on Jan. 15.
Rector said they plan to bring justice against the four suspects believed to be associated in the car break-ins on Park Side Circle.
“Justice means each and every one of the people involved in this crime is behind bars,” Rector said.
Law enforcement agencies throughout the Birmingham area have recovered four stolen vehicles in the past 10 days that Hoover police say are associated with the group of suspects they are investigating in the homicide case. Police also report the group is being investigated for other crimes in nearby cities.
Rector said it is not surprising to see young people involved in crimes such as this one.
“You see kids committing violent acts all the time, so sadly, it’s not really a surprise to us to see individuals this young that may be responsible this time,” Rector said.
Police released surveillance video photos of two of the suspects entering a store the night of the crime, and Rector said one of those suspects was Charleston Wells. The other individual, seen wearing a sweatshirt that said “FLY” and “First Love Yourself” has also been identified, Rector said.
Rector said they would not be providing any details on physical evidence, the murder weapon or who fired the weapon.
Police said there are still people with information about this case who have not come forward, and police are encouraging them or anyone with information to contact Sgt. Keith Czekleba at 739-6795 or Hoover police at 822-5300. Anonymous tips can also be sent to Crime Stoppers at 254-7777.
