On a Friday afternoon in Birmingham, Alabama, Talton Tait, a 36-year-old man known to loved ones as "TJ," was spending time with friends. He was a beloved figure in his family and the wider community. On February 16, 2024, Tait and his lifelong friends were gathered at a neighborhood car wash in the Smithfield area when their lives were tragically cut short. The group of friends included Cortez Ray, 32, Terrell Edwards, 38, and Kevin McGhee, 38.
The attack happened at 2:40 p.m.
According to investigators, a black car had been seen on surveillance video circling the area for about ten minutes before the shooting. The car then pulled up, and two people dressed in all black, one from the passenger side and one from the back seat, got out with guns and opened fire on the group of men. The entire incident was over in less than a minute. Police believe the men were specifically targeted. Tait, Ray, and Edwards were pronounced dead at the scene. McGhee, who was a father and fiancé, was rushed to a local hospital but died from his injuries.
The Birmingham Police Department's investigation uncovered significant evidence. Detectives recovered over 35 shell casings at the scene, determining that at least two different guns had been used in the homicides. About twenty minutes after the shooting, the black vehicle used by the assailants was found on fire on Wenonah Road. The quadruple homicide was part of an intensely violent period in the city that drew concern from community leaders.
The investigation led to an arrest in the case. Lamarion Charlie, 21, was taken into custody and charged with two counts of capital murder for the deaths of the four men. During a court hearing, a detective testified that Charlie maintained he had only driven the car used in the shooting. Prosecutors also stated that police were still searching for another person of interest in connection with the attack.
As of February 2025, Lamarion Charlie was awaiting legal proceedings. The families of the four victims, who were all fathers, continued to mourn the profound loss of their loved ones.
