In the early hours of January 5, 2025, a verbal dispute inside a Birmingham, Alabama, home escalated into a tragedy that claimed the life of 40-year-old James Leon Craig Jr.. The incident, which unfolded around 2:30 a.m. at a residence on 17th Court South, also left a woman with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.
Responding officers found both Craig and the injured woman at the scene. They were transported to UAB Hospital, where Craig was later pronounced dead.
The shooting marked the third homicide in the city of Birmingham for the year 2025.
Following an investigation, 23-year-old Tamiya Thomas was arrested on February 27, 2025, in connection with the fatal shooting. She was subsequently charged with capital murder and is being held in the Jefferson County Jail without bond.
The family of James Leon Craig Jr. has publicly expressed their frustration with the handling of the initial police investigation, believing it was not conducted thoroughly from the outset. His twin sister, Jennifer Craig, voiced concerns about the pace of the investigation and the communication from the Birmingham Police Department. While an arrest has been made, the family believes others who were present during the shooting should also face consequences.
