Grand jury indicts two in robbery, shooting case

Two men connected to an April robbery and shooting at Westside Plaza Apartments in Russellville have been indicted by the September grand jury.

Johnny Thomas Borden, 25, 100 Westside Plaza, Apt. 362, Russellville, was indicted on charges of first-degree robbery and second-degree assault.

Mark Anthony Cooley, 52, 100 Westside Plaza, Apt. 324, was indicted for first-degree robbery.

According to Russellville Police Chief Chris Hargett, Borden and Cooley allegedly orchestrated the robbery, although officials were unaware that Cooley was part of the crime until later in the investigation.

Hargett said on the evening of April 7, a 20-year-old male was visiting Cooley in his apartment when Borden entered the apartment wearing a black ski mask and robbed the man at gunpoint.

Hargett said the victim of the robbery fled from the scene but returned an hour later with another man because he had left his cell phone behind.

Hargett said when the robbery victim and his friend returned to the apartment, the two men discovered Borden, who was still at the scene at that time allegedly wearing the black ski mask.

Hargett said the two men then got into an altercation with Borden.

“During the altercation, apparently a shot was fired that went through the corner of a wall in the kitchen and into an adjacent room and struck Cooley in the abdomen,” Hargett said.

Hargett said paramedics arrived on the scene and Cooley was flown from the upper parking lot of the Russellville High School Stadium to Huntsville Hospital where he was in critical care for several days until finally being released.

The .20-gauge shotgun that was allegedly used in the shooting was recovered near the scene, officials said.

Hargett said during the course of the investigation, it was discovered that Cooley had allegedly been the one who set up the robbery, which was why he was charged along with Borden.

Franklin County District Attorney Joey Rushing said Borden’s and Cooley’s cases should be placed on the December criminal trial docket.