Darius Deshawn Brooks was a 28-year-old Black man whose life was tragically cut short in his hometown of Bessemer, Alabama. The incident that led to his death occurred in the quiet, early morning hours of Tuesday, April 25, 2023, unfolding not as a random act of violence, but as a fatal conflict between family members right outside his own home.
The Bessemer Police Department received a call about a person shot just after midnight, dispatching officers to a residence in the 700 block of
Parker Road. Upon their arrival, they made a grim discovery. Darius Brooks was found unresponsive in his driveway, having suffered from what were determined to be fatal gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The initial investigation at the scene yielded crucial information that allowed the case to progress swiftly. Acting on leads gathered from the Parker Road home, police were directed to a second address in the 800 block of 4th Avenue SW. There, they located and took a suspect into custody without incident. During the course of the arrest, officers also successfully recovered a firearm that was believed to be the weapon used in the homicide.
The man arrested was identified as Jordan Brooks, who was 22 years old at the time. The arrest was particularly tragic for the family, as Jordan was the first cousin of Darius. Investigators reported that the shooting was the violent culmination of an ongoing argument between the two cousins. The dispute was allegedly over a small amount of money owed for a past DoorDash order. An important detail released by police clarified that neither Darius nor Jordan was employed by the food delivery service.
In the aftermath of the investigation and arrest, the Bessemer Police Department signed murder warrants for Jordan Brooks. He was formally charged with the murder of Darius Brooks and prepared for transfer to the Jefferson County Jail to await legal proceedings. A judge set his bond at $60,000. As of the end of April 2023, the case against Jordan Brooks was proceeding through the Jefferson County court system.
