In the late morning of Tuesday, August 19, 2025, a tragic incident unfolded at the Madison Park apartments in Birmingham, Alabama, leading to the death of six-year-old Alex Reese. A male, Alex was visiting from out of state when the event occurred. Shortly before 11:30 a.m., Birmingham police and fire and rescue services responded to a call of a person shot in the 700 block of 24th Avenue Northwest. Upon their arrival, they discovered young Alex with a gunshot wound to his head.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Initial investigations by the Birmingham Police Department revealed that Alex was in an apartment with two adults at the time of the shooting. He had reportedly entered a bedroom, where he found a firearm that was not securely stored. It is believed that he then accidentally discharged the weapon, resulting in his fatal injury. The two adults who were present in the apartment were taken in for questioning by the police as part of the ongoing investigation.
In the immediate aftermath, Birmingham Police Chief Michael Pickett expressed his condolences to Alex's family and stressed the critical importance of responsible gun ownership and safety measures. Authorities emphasized that such accidental shootings are preventable and urged gun owners to ensure their firearms are properly secured, especially in environments where children are present. As of late August 2025, the investigation into the circumstances surrounding Alex's death was still active, and officials had not publicly announced whether any charges would be filed against the adults who were in the apartment. The police encouraged anyone with information to come forward to assist with the inquiry.
