In the quiet afternoon of Monday, March 30, 2026, the community of Alexander City, Alabama, was unsettled by an act of violence that claimed the lives of two young men. Fitzgerald Wilson Jr., a 19-year-old, was fatally shot in what authorities have described as a targeted attack. The incident unfolded around 1:00 p.m. at the intersection of 3rd Street and 10th Avenue in the Avondale area.
Responding to a 911 call reporting gunfire, police officers arrived at the scene to find a silver
Hyundai Elantra. Inside the vehicle, they discovered Wilson and another young man, 20-year-old Rafiel Riggins, both of Alexander City. Both men had sustained multiple gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators determined that the shots had been fired from outside the vehicle.
In the days following the double homicide, law enforcement officials actively sought information from the public to help identify those responsible. CrimeStoppers announced a $2,000 cash reward for any tips that would lead to the identification and arrest of a suspect or suspects. This appeal to the community was a crucial step in the early stages of the investigation.
The efforts of law enforcement and community cooperation led to a significant development in the case on Friday, April 3, 2026. Two brothers, 22-year-old Markeis Diquon Smart of Dadeville and 19-year-old Jordan Hakeim Smart of Alexander City, were taken into custody in connection with the shooting deaths of Wilson and Riggins. Both suspects were charged with two counts of capital murder of persons in a vehicle. Markeis Smart faced an additional charge of first-degree sexual abuse. Following their arrest, they were transported to the Tallapoosa County Jail to await a bond hearing.
