On a summer evening in Opelika, Alabama, the life of 30-year-old Nealious Mario Hodge, a Black male, was tragically cut short. On June 6, 2020, at approximately 9:36 p.m., Opelika Police officers responded to reports of a shooting at the intersection of Talladega Street and Monroe Avenue. Upon their arrival, they discovered Hodge lying in the roadway, suffering from a gunshot wound. Emergency medical services promptly transported him to East Alabama Medical Center, but he sadly succumbed to his injuries.
In the days that followed, the Opelika Police Department launched a homicide investigation and appealed to the public for assistance, hoping to gather any information that could lead to the person or persons responsible for Hodge's death. To encourage potential witnesses to come forward, Central Alabama CrimeStoppers offered a $1,000 reward for any information that would lead to an arrest. The family of Nealious Mario Hodge, in their quest for answers and closure, released his photograph to the public, hoping it would resonate with someone who might have crucial information about the shooting.
Despite the efforts of law enforcement and the pleas from his family, the investigation into the murder of Nealious Mario Hodge has not led to any arrests. As of early 2026, the case remains unsolved, with no suspects publicly identified. The Opelika Police Department and Central Alabama CrimeStoppers have continued to urge anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to contact them, emphasizing the community's vital role in bringing justice for Hodge and his grieving family. The case is now considered archived, a painful reminder of a life lost and a quest for justice that continues.
