Dacedric Ward

A Dec. 11 trial date has been tentatively set for Dacedric Deshun Ward, one of two men accused in the 2016 fatal shooting of a Madison teenager outside the Sonic restaurant on County Line Road in Madison-annexed Limestone County.

Ward, 22, of 122 Sweet Hollow Way, Madison, could choose to enter a guilty plea on Dec. 1 in exchange for a lesser sentence. However, both the plea date and the trial date could be rescheduled.

Ward and Trevor Davis Cantrell, 19, of 7900 Old Madison Pike, Madison, entered pleas of not guilty last week in Limestone County Circuit Court to capital murder – robbery and capital murder – shooting from a vehicle. They are accused in the Dec. 26 shooting of 18-year-old Jason Ender West in the Sonic parking lot.

According to court records, West had gone to the location about 3 p.m. to buy Xanax from Ward and Cantrell. The two men intended to rob West, but Ward pulled a gun and shot West, who died a short time later at Huntsville Hospital.

West was a senior at James Clemens High School at the time. He had completed his coursework and was a mid-year graduate intending to head to college.

Cantrell, who was 18 at the time of the shooting, is seeking youthful offender status. If granted by Circuit Judge Robert Baker, he would qualify for a lesser sentence if convicted. His court date on that matter is Aug. 3.

Baker has also set a June 6 hearing on a request for discovery in the case.