Birmingham Suspect's 76-Year-Old Grandfather Among Two Killed in Shooting Spree; 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.

According to authorities, the suspect—who is believed to have "snapped" during the rampage—was apprehended less than five hours after the shootings. The suspect’s name has not been released pending formal charges, but police confirmed that the victims include his father and grandfather. The suspect's father remains in critical condition, and Jackson was his grandfather.

The violence began around 4:45 p.m. on Thursday when West Precinct officers responded to reports of multiple people shot at a home in the 1600 block of Dennison Avenue. Inside, they discovered Dunn, a beloved mother and grandmother, suffering from gunshot wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:20 p.m.

Police also learned that a man, wounded in the same incident, had left the scene before officers arrived. That victim later appeared at Princeton Baptist Medical Center with life-threatening injuries and was subsequently transferred to UAB Hospital, where he remains in critical condition.

Shortly after, officers were alerted to a second shooting location in the 1400 block of 17th Place S.W., near the first scene. There, they found Jackson and a woman in a basement den area. Jackson was pronounced dead at 5:50 p.m., and the woman was taken to UAB Hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Authorities believe the suspect forced someone to drive him from the Dennison Avenue residence to the 17th Place S.W. location. He fled before police arrived but was captured around 9:15 p.m. in Five Points West following a massive search operation that included Jefferson County’s Star 1 helicopter.

According to Officer Truman Fitzgerald, the suspect knew all four of his victims. His grandfather and a family friend were shot at the 17th Place S.W. home, while his father and another family friend were shot at the Dennison Avenue residence.

The crime scenes drew dozens of distraught family members and friends. Evelyn Koech, a friend and neighbor, expressed her grief, describing Dunn as a joyful, friendly woman who deeply loved her children and grandchildren.

"This is senseless," Koech said. "It’s not fair. This mother, this sister, this daughter, this grandmother has lost her life, and for what?"

The deaths of Dunn and Jackson mark the 96th and 97th homicides in Birmingham this year, with eight of those deemed justifiable and not considered criminal. In total, Jefferson County has seen 122 homicides in 2024, including the 97 in Birmingham.