In the anley Highlands and Belleview Heights communities of Birmingham, Alabama, a burst of gunfire on the evening of April 20, 2026, left one man dead and another injured. Chaddrick Mario Thomas, a 39-year-old man, was identified as the deceased. The shooting took place along Warrior Road, a scene that would soon be flooded with police officers beginning a homicide investigation. Thomas was rushed to UAB Hospital but ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
The condition of the second individual who was wounded in the incident was not immediately made public.
The investigation into the deadly shooting moved swiftly. Within a day, Birmingham police had a suspect in custody. Michael Hickden was arrested without incident and initially held on a 48-hour felony extension at the Birmingham City Jail. The Jefferson County Coroner's Office had officially confirmed Thomas's identity, and the focus of the investigation turned to bringing charges against the individual responsible for his death.
Formal charges were soon brought against Michael Hickden. He faces one count of murder for the death of Chaddrick Mario Thomas, in addition to charges of attempted murder related to the second victim, and discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle. Following the official charges, Hickden was transferred to the Jefferson County Jail where he is being held without bond. It remains unclear what the relationship was between Hickden and the two victims of the shooting.
