James Earl Dunford was a 69-year-old male resident of Brundidge, Alabama. His family arranged for his funeral service to be held at the New Hope Independent Holy Church of God in early October 2026.
In the pre-dawn hours of Tuesday, September 22, 2026, police received a 911 call reporting a person had been shot at a home on McSwain Street in Brundidge. Officers responded to the residence around 3:15 a.m. and discovered Mr. Dunford inside.
He had sustained a fatal gunshot wound, and first responders pronounced him dead at the scene.
The Brundidge Police Department began a homicide investigation with assistance from the Pike County Sheriff’s Office, the District Attorney’s Office, and the coroner. Through their investigation and with information from the community, authorities quickly identified a suspect: Mr. Dunford’s 44-year-old nephew, Dewayne Alvin Dunford. Police initiated a search, warning the public that the suspect was considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached.
Approximately seven hours after the shooting was reported, police located Dewayne Dunford outside a department store in Brundidge. He was taken into custody without incident.
Dewayne Dunford was charged with murder and booked into the Pike County Jail. Authorities noted that he also had an outstanding misdemeanor warrant. He was held without bond pending a hearing. As of the arrest in September 2026, police said the investigation was still underway and that more charges could be filed.
