Birmingham Shooting Spree: Suspect’s 76-Year-Old Grandfather Among Two Killed, Father Among Two Wounded

The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office has identified the two victims killed in a domestic-related shooting spree in west Birmingham as 49-year-old Laquitta Charisse Dunn and 76-year-old Anthony Jackson.

Authorities believe the suspect, who was apprehended less than five hours after the shootings, “snapped” before going on a violent rampage. His name has not yet been released as formal charges are pending, but police have confirmed that the suspect's father and grandfather were among the four victims. The suspect's father remains in critical condition, while Jackson was identified as his grandfather.

The tragic events began at 4:45 p.m. on Thursday when West Precinct officers responded to reports of multiple people shot at a residence in the 1600 block of Dennison Avenue. Upon entering the home, officers found Dunn, a beloved mother and grandmother, gravely wounded. She was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:20 p.m.

Officer Truman Fitzgerald reported that another man, the suspect’s father, had been wounded in the Dennison Avenue shooting but was not at the scene when officers arrived. He later arrived at Princeton Baptist Medical Center with life-threatening injuries and was transferred to UAB Hospital, where he remains in critical condition.

Police then received information indicating that the suspect may have also fired shots at a second location in the 1400 block of 17th Place S.W., near the first crime scene. When officers arrived at the 17th Place S.W. home, they discovered Jackson and a woman in a basement den area. Jackson was pronounced dead at 5:50 p.m., and the woman was transported to UAB Hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Authorities believe the suspect forced another person to drive him from the Dennison Avenue home to the 17th Place S.W. residence before fleeing. He was later apprehended around 9:15 p.m. in the Five Points West area after a large-scale search operation that included Jefferson County’s Star 1 helicopter.

Fitzgerald confirmed that all of the victims were known to the suspect.

Family members and friends gathered at the crime scenes, visibly devastated by the senseless violence.

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

Koech described Dunn as a joyful and friendly woman who adored her grandchildren and children. “She was just an uplifting person,” Koech said. “She didn’t bother anybody.”

The deaths of Dunn and Jackson mark the 96th and 97th homicides in Birmingham this year. Of those, eight have been ruled justifiable and are not considered criminal.