One of two men charged with capital murder in the fatal shooting of a Madison man in 2016 will face the death penalty when he is tried in Limestone County, an official said today.

District Attorney Brian Jones had asked the Limestone County Circuit Court to allow the state, as represented by the DA’s office, to seek the death penalty for Trevor Davis Cantrell, 21, of 7900 Old Madison Pike, Madison, if he is convicted. Circuit Judge Robert Baker granted the request today. No solid trial date has been set.

Cantrell and Dacedric Deshun Ward, 24, of 122 Sweet Hollow Way, Madison, are charged with capital murder and first-degree robbery in connection with the Dec. 26, 2016, fatal shooting of Jason Ender West, 18, of Madison, at the Sonic restaurant on County Line Road in Madison-annexed Limestone County.

West had gone to the Sonic parking lot to buy Xanax from Ward and Cantrell, according to court records. The two men intended to rob West, but Ward pulled a gun and shot West, who died a short time later at Huntsville Hospital, records show.

West graduated from James Clemens High School mid-year and was heading to college, his parents have said.

The state has so far not sought the death penalty for Ward, records show. Jones said that is because Ward’s defense attorney has not yet asked the DA’s office (the state) whether it intends to seek the death penalty in Ward’s case. Once that is done, the state will ask the court to allow it to seek the death penalty.  

Both men remain jailed without bail in Limestone County, which is allowed under Alabama law in capital cases.