2 Dead, 2 Injured in Birmingham Domestic Shootings; Suspect Who ‘Snapped’ Now in Custody

A gunman accused of shooting four people, killing two of them, is now in custody.

The suspect, whose identity has not been released, was apprehended around 9:15 p.m. in the Five Points West area, less than five hours after allegedly carrying out a rampage targeting family members and close family friends.

Initially, police reported a third victim had died but later confirmed that the individual remains alive.

Authorities believe the shootings were domestic in nature, with those close to the suspect indicating that he appeared to have suddenly "snapped."

Dozens of grieving family members gathered at the scene, including the suspect’s grandmother.

“This is senseless,’' said Evelyn Koech, a friend and neighbor. “It’s not fair.”

The violence began at 4:45 p.m. on Thursday, when West Precinct officers responded to reports of multiple shootings at a home in the 1600 block of Dennison Avenue. Upon entering the house, officers found a woman dead from a gunshot wound, later identified by family members as LaQuitta Dunn, a beloved mother and grandmother.

Officer Truman Fitzgerald stated that another man was also injured in the Dennison Avenue shooting, though he was not at the scene when police arrived. That victim later showed up at Princeton Baptist Medical Center with life-threatening injuries and was subsequently transferred to UAB Hospital, where he remains in critical condition.

Fitzgerald reported that the suspect may have also fired shots at a second location, a home in the 1400 block of 17th Place S.W., close to the first scene. Police entered the house and discovered a man and a woman in a basement den area. Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service pronounced the man dead at the scene, while the woman was transported to UAB Hospital with life-threatening injuries.

According to Fitzgerald, the shooter was either related to or closely acquainted with all the victims. It is believed that he may have forced someone to drive him from the first crime scene to the second. The deceased man at the Dennison Avenue home was a family member of the shooter, as was the man found dead at the second location. The female victims, though not necessarily blood-related, were well-known to the suspect.

“This is a shooter who knew every single person he shot,’’ Fitzgerald said.

He emphasized that this was a domestic-related incident, with multiple scenes and victims, and not a random act of violence.

The area has been heavily saturated with law enforcement, including the Star 1 helicopter and federal law enforcement officers. Multiple detectives have been brought in to assist with the investigation.

“We're withholding the suspect's information for now to protect the integrity of our investigation and to ensure we don’t compromise any leads we’ve developed,’’ Fitzgerald said.

He reassured the public that the area remains thoroughly covered by law enforcement.