In the warmth of a Birmingham, Alabama afternoon on Monday, May 17, 2021, a sequence of events tragically culminated in the death of 25-year-old Tavarius Hampton. A U.S. Army sergeant stationed at Fort Campbell in Kentucky, Hampton had family ties that brought him back to the city where his life would unexpectedly end.
On that day, in the 7700 block of 6th Avenue South, Hampton was observed leaving a bag on the porch of a residence shortly before 1 p.m.
This action drew the attention of the home's occupants, who then approached him. An altercation ensued between Hampton and the two men, which quickly and violently escalated to an exchange of gunfire. During the shootout, Hampton sustained a fatal gunshot wound. He was rushed to UAB Hospital, but his injuries proved too severe, and he was pronounced dead.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, Birmingham police detained the two men involved in the altercation for questioning. An investigation into the circumstances of the shooting was launched. Following a review of the evidence presented by the Birmingham police, the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office made a determination. Investigators concluded that Hampton had fired his weapon first, and as a result, his death was ruled a justifiable homicide. Consequently, no criminal charges were filed against the other individuals involved in the incident.
Tavarius Hampton, born on the first day of 1996, was a husband and a father to two daughters. He had served in the U.S. Army since October 6, 2015, after being educated in the Birmingham School System. His death was one of six shooting fatalities that occurred in a brief 48-hour span in the city, contributing to a period of heightened concern over gun violence in the community.
