On a tragic August evening in 2021, a 17-year-old Black male named Acorian Marquette King was fatally shot in Bessemer, Alabama. The incident occurred on August 17 at the Stop N Go convenience store on Dartmouth Avenue, where King, a student at Bessemer City High School, was an innocent bystander.
A physical altercation between two men escalated into gunfire, and King was struck by a stray bullet. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other adults were injured during the shooting. One man suffered life-threatening injuries, and a woman was also wounded.
Following the incident, Bessemer police arrested a 17-year-old male suspect. He was subsequently charged with murder, attempted murder, and first-degree assault. Authorities stated that the suspect would be tried as an adult, though his identity was not publicly released due to his age.
The untimely death of Acorian King deeply impacted the Bessemer community. He was remembered at his high school as a quiet but social student who had aspirations of a career in construction. He was an active participant in the school's Amazon and welding programs. The school district made counseling services available to students and staff to help them cope with the loss. Funeral services for King were held on August 28, 2021.
