Back-to-back murder cases are scheduled to be tried in Limestone County in August, an official said Friday.

Limestone County District Attorney Brian Jones told The News Courier these two cases are the next major cases on his list.

An Athens man accused of fatally shooting another man at a 2015 gathering will be tried the week of Aug. 12 in Limestone County Circuit Court. Meanwhile, a Madison woman accused of driving under the influence during a 2016 wreck that killed her child is scheduled to be tried the week of Aug. 19 in Circuit Court.

Townsend

Randall James Townsend, 24, of 936 Steeplechase Drive, is charged with murder in the Dec. 5, 2015, shooting of Zachori Keith Blackwell, 24, at Xtreme Performance auto-repair shop on York Lane in Limestone County.

Authorities said shortly after 5 a.m., Limestone County sheriff’s deputies were called to the shop where a gathering had been held and found Blackwell shot.

Witnesses said Blackwell, who lived on Blackburn Road, began to argue with his wife. Blackwell, who was allegedly intoxicated, struck her and became otherwise aggressive toward her, witnesses said. He also struck and pushed two other people, they said.

Others at the party told Townsend to use his truck to block the gate to the property to prevent Blackwell from leaving in an intoxicated state. Townsend complied with the request, and Blackwell shoved him to the ground, witnesses said. After returning to his feet, Townsend pulled a gun from the front pocket of his hooded sweatshirt and shot seven rounds at Blackwell, striking him five times, including three times in the back, witnesses said.

Townsend has retained Athens attorney Harlan Mitchell to represent him.

Circuit Judge Robert Baker will preside at the trial.

He remains free on a $250,000 bond.

Beck

Christina Marie Beck, 42, of 243 Waters Edge Lane, Madison, is scheduled to be tried the week after Townsend, Jones said.

Beck is charged with reckless murder and driving under the influence of a controlled substance in connection with a wreck that occurred 7:05 p.m. April 21, 2016, on Huntsville-Browns Ferry Road in Limestone County. Beck and her 5-year-old son, Eli Cameron Beck, were driving in a rental car on Huntsville-Browns Ferry, a half-mile east of Interstate 65, when she crossed a bridge in the rain and slid into the path of an oncoming utility van driven by Joseph Beggs, 49, of Somerville.

The child, who was wearing a seatbelt but not a child restraint, was declared dead at the scene. Christina Beck was seriously injured, and Beggs was treated at Athens-Limestone Hospital.

Beck has retained Huntsville attorney Richard Jensen to represent her.

Circuit Judge Chadwick Wise will preside at the trial.

She remains free on a $51,000 bond.