On the night of Saturday, May 30, 2026, in Tallassee, Alabama, a gathering of remembrance turned into a scene of violence that claimed the life of 33-year-old Ronderious Hooks. Family and friends had come together to honor a loved one who had been buried earlier that day. After being asked by police to leave a location on Jordan Avenue where they had gathered, some of the group moved to a place known as "The Shed," located behind a Jack's restaurant on Gilmer Avenue.
It was here, in the late hours of the evening, that the fatal encounter unfolded.
At approximately 11:19 p.m., Tallassee Police responded to reports of a person shot in the 200 block of Gilmer Avenue. Upon arrival, they found that Hooks had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. He was privately transported to Tallassee Community Hospital, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries. An autopsy would later reveal he had been shot at least six times, with wounds to his chest, right arm, back, and legs. Another individual was also wounded in the shooting, having been shot in the thigh, but was taken to a Montgomery-area hospital, treated, and subsequently released.
The investigation into the shooting led authorities to 31-year-old Jamario Butler of Tallassee. With the assistance of the Montgomery Police Department's SWAT team, Butler was taken into custody on the Wednesday following the shooting. He was subsequently charged with murder, first-degree assault, and discharging a firearm into an unoccupied vehicle. During a subsequent court hearing, a Tallassee police investigator testified that Butler had confessed to the crime. The case represents a tragic end to a day that began with mourning and concluded with another loss for the community.
