On the morning of December 20, 2025, a violent incident occurred in the Birmingham metropolitan area involving the fatal shooting of 32-year-old Christian Scott White. Authorities responded to reports of gunfire in the 1900 block of Gadsden Highway in Trussville, Alabama, at approximately 1:05 a.m. While initial reports suggested the altercation took place at a local establishment known as Velma’s, subsequent clarifications from property owners and investigators indicated the shooting
actually occurred in the parking lot of a neighboring veterinary office. White, a resident of Clay, Alabama, sustained critical injuries during the event and was pronounced dead, marking the first homicide in Trussville for the year 2025.
Christian White was a 2011 graduate of Clay-Chalkville High School who worked as a heavy machine operator. Known for his charismatic personality and love for his family, he was an avid enthusiast of dirt bikes and motorcycles, a passion he had pursued since childhood. He is survived by his two children, Emersyn and Rohan, as well as his parents, sisters, and grandparents. Following his death, community members and local businesses expressed their devastation, remembering him as a loyal friend and a frequent patron of the area. A celebration of his life and funeral services were scheduled for early January 2026 at Ridout's Trussville Chapel.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the Trussville Police Department launched a homicide investigation that led to the identification and apprehension of a suspect. Police arrested 24-year-old Kanen Isaac Harper of Moody, Alabama, in connection with White's death. Harper was taken into custody and charged with murder. He was subsequently booked into the Jefferson County Jail, where he was held without bond pending further legal proceedings. Investigators reviewed surveillance footage to assist in the case, noting that there appeared to be no prior altercation inside the nearby bar before the shooting occurred in the adjacent lot.
