In the quiet of a Saturday evening in Birmingham, Alabama, the life of Christopher Deandre Coleman, a 41-year-old Black / African American man, was tragically cut short. On April 13, 2024, Coleman, the owner of a local towing company, was found shot to death in the driveway of a vacant house on Maple Avenue Southwest. His tow truck was still running when officers arrived at the scene around 11:10 p.m., a haunting detail in the unfolding mystery of his death.
A 911 call had alerted authorities to the presence of the truck, backed into the property, leading to the grim discovery.
Christopher Coleman was remembered by those who loved him as a dedicated family man. His wife, Lisa Coleman, spoke of him as a great father, grandfather, and husband, a person who would go out of his way to help anyone in need. The couple had been making plans for a new chapter in their lives, preparing to move out of state before he was killed. His family expressed their profound grief and confusion, with one relative stating, "I don't see why someone would had to do him any harm because if you ask him for it, he'll give it to you." They believe he was doing everything he could to right any past wrongs and focus on his family.
The Birmingham Police Department launched a homicide investigation into Coleman's death, which marked the city's 40th homicide of the year. While no arrests have been made, investigators have been pursuing leads. In late April, the police released a video showing a person of interest walking down a driveway, seeking the public's help in identifying and locating this individual. The family remains hopeful for answers, with Lisa Coleman mentioning that she believes the police have a couple of leads. As the investigation continues, a family is left to mourn the loss of a man they describe as a hardworking provider, his future with them stolen by an act of violence.
