In the Zion City neighborhood of Birmingham, Alabama, the life of 39-year-old Towan Troy Lee, a male native of New Jersey who had made Birmingham his home, was tragically cut short. On the afternoon of October 17, 2019, a passerby discovered Lee unresponsive in the roadway at the intersection of 93rd Street North and 7th Court North. Emergency services, including Birmingham Fire and Rescue, were dispatched to the scene, but it was too late; Lee was pronounced deceased upon their arrival. The initial investigation by the Birmingham Police Department quickly shifted from a death investigation to a homicide, based on evidence found at the scene.
The investigation into Lee's death continued for several months. In February 2020, a significant breakthrough occurred when authorities arrested 40-year-old Ray Franklin in connection with the murder. Investigators believed that the shooting was an act of retaliation for a prior incident. Franklin was subsequently charged with murder, as well as several drug-related offenses, including unlawful possession of a controlled substance, and unlawful possession and trafficking of marijuana.
The legal proceedings against Ray Franklin culminated in a plea agreement. Franklin pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter. Following his plea, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in the death of Towan Troy Lee. As part of the plea deal, the additional drug charges against him were dismissed. Towan Troy Lee, a father of four, was remembered by his loved ones as a jovial person who enjoyed making people laugh. He was also a rap artist and worked as a handyman. His death left a void in the lives of his family and friends, who cherished his memory.
