In a tragic turn of events on a December evening in 2020, a dispute inside a Jasper, Alabama mobile home claimed the life of 36-year-old Jerry Lee James Jr. A White male, Mr. James was visiting a woman at a residence in the Domaine Mobile Home Community on Vallon Circle, just east of the city, on December 10th. An uninvited man, identified as Jose Martinez, arrived at the home, leading to a confrontation with James.
The altercation between the two men quickly escalated into a violent
struggle. The fight culminated in Mr. James suffering multiple gunshot wounds. After the shooting, Martinez fled the scene in a vehicle before law enforcement arrived. Emergency services transported Jerry James Jr. to UAB Hospital in Birmingham for treatment of his critical injuries. Despite medical efforts, he succumbed to his wounds the following day, on December 11, 2020.
Authorities located and apprehended Jose Martinez in Jasper a short time after the incident, taking him into custody without any further conflict. Initially, he was charged with attempted murder. However, following the death of Mr. James, the charges against Martinez were upgraded by the Walker County District Attorney's Office. The new charges included intentional murder, first-degree robbery, first-degree domestic violence, and third-degree domestic violence, as the woman present at the scene was also considered a victim.
