Arrest made in 1998 Coosa County shooting death
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Cliff Williams / The Outlook Coosa County Sheriff Michael Howell holds a press conference announcing the indictment and arrest of Bernard Russell for the 1998 shooting death of Julia McKenzie. Howell was joined by children and other family members of McKenzie at the press conference.

Julia ‘Fruity’ McKenzie lost her life on Nov. 16, 1998 as the result of a shooting outside of a Kellyton night club. Now, 24 years later, Bernard Russell is facing manslaughter charges.

Coosa County Sheriff Michael Howell and 40th Judicial Circuit District Attorney Joe Ficquette announced Thursday they had solved the 24-year old cold case with the family of McKenzie.

Cliff Williams is a staff writer for Tallapoosa Publishers.