Jaxon Trew Bearden, a 21-year-old man from Alabaster, Alabama, was remembered as a kind and loving person with a great sense of humor. A 2023 graduate of Thompson High School, Jaxon was an active student who had played on the freshman boys' basketball team. His obituary described him as a beloved son, brother, and grandson who cherished his family and friends. Those who knew him recalled his infectious smile and his ability to bring laughter to any situation.
He was an employee at UPS and was known for his strong work ethic. In his free time, he enjoyed playing video games and spending quality time with his loved ones, leaving behind a legacy of joy and cherished memories.
The night of Saturday, October 24, 2026, brought a violent end to Jaxon’s promising life. He was in the Ensley neighborhood of Birmingham when the attack occurred. At approximately 9:14 p.m., the Birmingham Police Department received a Shot Spotter notification indicating gunfire in the 2400 block of Avenue B. The electronic alert was quickly followed by calls reporting that a person had been shot. Officers from the department's West Precinct were dispatched to the scene, where they discovered Jaxon suffering from critical gunshot wounds. Birmingham Fire and Rescue personnel arrived and provided immediate medical aid before transporting him to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Hospital with life-threatening injuries. Despite the efforts of the medical staff, Jaxon Trew Bearden was pronounced dead at 10:06 p.m.
As police secured the crime scene and began their investigation, they were notified that a second victim had arrived at UAB Hospital. A woman, who had been brought to the emergency room in a private vehicle, was being treated for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound she sustained during the same incident on Avenue B. The circumstances leading up to the shooting were not immediately clear, but investigators began processing the scene for evidence. The killing marked the 35th homicide investigation in the city of Birmingham for 2026, a statistic that underscores the ongoing challenge of gun violence in the community.
The law enforcement response was remarkably swift. Within about 30 minutes of the shooting, patrol officers spotted two individuals who matched the description of the suspects. The officers conducted a stop near the intersection of Princeton Parkway and Lomb Avenue, a short distance from the crime scene. The two men were taken into custody without incident. Following questioning and the initial gathering of evidence, the Birmingham Police Department moved forward with charges.
On Monday, October 26, 2026, police announced the arrests and identified the suspects as 18-year-old Darius Ramone McConis of Birmingham and 20-year-old Ja'Maries Antonio Robinson of Mobile. Detectives charged both men with capital murder in the commission of a robbery. This serious charge suggests that investigators believe Jaxon was killed during the course of a robbery attempt. Due to the capital nature of the charges, both McConis and Robinson were booked into the Jefferson County Jail and ordered to be held without bond pending their court appearances.
In the wake of the tragedy, Jaxon's family and friends were left to grapple with their sudden and profound loss. His funeral service was held at the First Baptist Church of Alabaster, where many gathered to pay their respects and share memories of the young man whose life was taken so senselessly. As of late October 2026, the criminal case against Darius McConis and Ja'Maries Robinson was proceeding through the Jefferson County court system. The Birmingham Police Department's homicide unit continued its investigation into the specifics of the crime. Authorities have asked that anyone with information that could aid the investigation contact the homicide unit directly at 205-254-1764 or to leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
