In what began as a domestic dispute, a Birmingham man, Quintin Dewayne Martin, lost his life in a tragic and violent encounter. On April 6, 2020, the 51-year-old was severely injured on the I-65 South access ramp at Daniel Payne Drive. Reports indicate that Martin had exited a small sedan and was walking away from the vehicle on the ramp.
The driver of the car, who was later identified as 50-year-old Patrice Lawson-Williams, then allegedly drove the wrong way down the ramp, striking
Martin from behind. Instead of stopping to render aid, Lawson-Williams is said to have fled the scene, leaving Martin critically injured on the roadway. Emergency services were called, and he was quickly transported to UAB Hospital for treatment of his extensive injuries.
Despite the efforts of medical staff, Quintin Dewayne Martin succumbed to his injuries six days later, on April 12, 2020. Following the incident, the Birmingham Police Department launched a homicide investigation, classifying the case as domestic in nature. Their investigation led them to Patrice Lawson-Williams, who was subsequently arrested.
Initially, Lawson-Williams was charged with first-degree domestic violence. However, following Martin's death, the charges against her were upgraded to murder. She was taken into custody and held in the Jefferson County Jail on a $60,000 bond.
