A Limestone County judge has denied bail to three people charged with capital murder and robbery in Tuesday’s fatal shooting of 27-year-old Brenton Gatlin of Limestone County.

On Thursday afternoon, District Judge Matthew Huggins ordered the accused — Terry Dale Amerson, Kandes Elizabeth Lambert and Marty Gene Stafford — held without bail in the Limestone County Jail, said Limestone County District Attorney Brian Jones.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 1, Jones said. At that hearing, the judge will determine whether there is adequate evidence for the defendants to stand trial.

Gatlin died at Athens-Limestone Hospital following the 10 p.m. shooting at the home of Lambert, 27, who lives at 712 Horton St., Athens.

Athens Police Chief Floyd Johnson said the suspects were in the process of stealing cash from Gatlin when he was shot. The chief said drugs and money may have prompted the shooting.

Lambert; Amerson, 22, of 20095 Townsend Ford Road, Athens; and Stafford, 28, of 20555 Elkton Road, Athen, are charged with one count each of capital murder and first-degree robbery in connection with the case.

Under the Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure, a judge can deny bail to defendants accused of capital murder, or murder in the commission of certain other felonies (in this case robbery).