On the night of November 6, 2022, a young Black/African American man named Kendall Jarod Thornton Jr., 21, was driving his blue Kia Forte along Pinson Valley Parkway near Cleage Drive in Birmingham, Alabama. It was approximately 10:30 p.m. and he was only five minutes away from his father's house. Suddenly, the night was shattered by the sound of gunfire as an unknown assailant or assailants opened fire on his vehicle.
Struck by the gunfire, Thornton lost control of his car, which veered off the roadway and crashed into a tree. Initially, the scene may have appeared to be a fatal car accident. However, upon closer inspection by Jefferson County Sheriff's deputies, it was discovered that Thornton's car was riddled with bullet holes. He was pronounced dead at the scene, not from the crash, but from the gunshot wounds he had sustained. The incident was quickly reclassified as a homicide investigation.
In the time that has passed since that tragic night, the investigation into Kendall Thornton Jr.'s murder has remained ongoing. Detectives with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office believe that other vehicles were in the vicinity at the time of the shooting and that there may be witnesses who have yet to come forward. Despite the efforts of law enforcement, no arrests have been made in the case, and no suspects have been publicly identified.
The family of Kendall Thornton Jr. has been left to grapple with the profound loss of a young man they described as an ideal child and a natural leader. In their search for answers and justice, they have pleaded with the public for any information that might lead to an arrest. Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama has offered a reward for information in the case, which has been increased to $12,500 in the hopes of encouraging someone to come forward with the crucial information that could solve this senseless act of violence. The family has also established a GoFundMe page to raise additional reward money.
