In the early morning hours of July 5, 2026, the quiet of a Bessemer, Alabama neighborhood was shattered by a fatal act of violence that claimed the life of 46-year-old Matthew James Burdett. Responding to a call around 4 a.m., police discovered Burdett inside a vehicle in the driveway of a residence on Browning Road, suffering from a gunshot wound. He was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The initial investigation pointed to a dispute over money as the catalyst for the deadly encounter.
As detectives began to piece together the events of that morning, a suspect was quickly identified. Joey Thomas Reach, a 57-year-old white male, was taken into custody in connection with the shooting. After questioning by police, Reach was arrested and transported to the Bessemer City Jail. He was booked into the Jefferson County Jail on July 6, 2026. The case against him moved swiftly through the initial stages of the justice system as he awaited formal charges.
Joey Thomas Reach has since been charged with Capital Murder in the death of Matthew James Burdett, specifically for the murder of a person in a vehicle. He also faces charges of Reckless Endangerment and Menacing - Intimidation. The investigation into the circumstances of the shooting and the underlying monetary dispute continues. As the case is in its preliminary stages, there have been no convictions or sentencing. The overview of the case so far indicates a dispute that escalated tragically, leading to the death of Matthew James Burdett and the arrest of Joey Thomas Reach on serious felony charges. The matter is now set to proceed through the court system to determine the ultimate outcome.
