In the quiet city of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, a family was tragically torn apart on the evening of April 12, 2026. Da'Carmen Flores-Trujillo, a 17-year-old male, was shot and killed, an event that sent ripples of sorrow through the community. The promising young life was cut short in what authorities would later describe as a homicide.
Hattiesburg Police Department officers were dispatched to the 900 block of Cypress Avenue at approximately 7:56 p.m. following reports of a shooting. There, they discovered Da'Carmen suffering from a gunshot wound to his chest. He was quickly transported to a nearby hospital for medical attention, but tragically, he could not be saved. Eyewitnesses at the scene told investigators that the individual responsible had promptly fled the area in a dark-colored SUV.
The investigation into the untimely death of Da'Carmen soon pointed towards a suspect who was shockingly close to home. Law enforcement identified his 23-year-old half-brother, Alexander Del Pilar Trujillo, as the alleged perpetrator. A coordinated effort involving the Hattiesburg Police Department, the Jasper County Sheriff's Office, the Mississippi Highway Patrol, the Forrest County Sheriff's Office, and the U.S. Marshals Task Force led to Trujillo's apprehension in Jasper County just days later. A crucial tip regarding his location had aided detectives in narrowing their search and making the arrest.
Following his capture, Alexander Del Pilar Trujillo was charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of his younger half-brother. He made his initial appearance in court on the Wednesday after the incident. A judge set his bond at $750,000, and as part of his release conditions, should he post bond, he would be required to wear an ankle monitor. Furthermore, the court ordered him to have no contact with his half-brother's family and to stay away from the scene of the crime as the investigation into this tragic case continues to unfold.
