In the heat of a Birmingham afternoon on August 24, 2020, tragedy struck 43-year-old Eddie Tillman Jackson Jr.. At approximately 1:30 p.m., the sounds of gunfire shattered the ordinary day at 4170 Messer Airport Highway, the scene of what would become the city's 67th homicide investigation of the year. When Birmingham Police officers arrived, they discovered Jackson suffering from a gunshot wound.
He was rushed to UAB Hospital, but his injuries proved to be fatal.
Another person was also wounded in the shooting. This individual was transported by a private vehicle to St. Vincent's East and fortunately sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The initial chaos of the scene soon gave way to a focused investigation as detectives began to piece together the events that led to the deadly encounter.
The investigation led to the arrests of two suspects from Birmingham. Gary Jones, who was 37 at the time, and Reginald Jones, then 36, were taken into custody in connection with the fatal shooting. The two men faced serious charges for their alleged roles in the incident that ended Eddie Tillman Jackson Jr.'s life.
Gary Jones was charged with murder, attempted murder, and discharging a firearm within the city limits. His bond was set at $150,000. Reginald Jones faced charges of murder and attempted murder, with his bond set at $120,000. Both men were booked into the Jefferson County Jail.
