FAIRHOPE, Ala. - An arraignment is set for the defendant in the murder of 22-year-old Thomas J. Perkins, who was shot early July 5 after an altercation on Young Street. Benjamin Kirby Blackmon, 25, is set for arraignment Feb. 16.

“He has been charged with one count of murder and there are no additional charges,” according to Robert Nicholson of the Baldwin County District Attorney’s office.

His bond is set at $750,000 and he remains in the Baldwin County Jail in Bay Minette, Nicholson said.

“The preliminary hearing was requested Aug. 5 and took place Aug. 19,” he said. “The judge decided there was probable cause and forwarded it to a grand jury; the grand jury indicted him at the end of November.”

Nicholson said that on Feb. 16, Blackman will have the opportunity to request a court appointed lawyer and to plea guilty or not guilty.

“From there they will continue with the scheduling orders and proceed with the trial,” he said.

Perkins was killed in the 1900 block of Young Street. According to the indictment, Blackmon allegedly shot Perkins in the back of the head after a group altercation on Kirkman Lane; Perkins was a former high school football player from Frisco City who often visited family in Fairhope, according to a previous report.

Blackman was arrested when he turned himself in at the Fairhope police station, police spokesman Sgt. Craig Sawyer.

“He came in and surrendered without incident,” Sawyer said. “He just showed up.”

An autopsy in the case has been completed but results are not available yet, he said.

“We can’t discuss the angle of the bullet or the location of the injury,” Sawyer said. “That might jeopardize his right to a fair trial. Also, depending on the exact location of the injury, it might incite further violence.”