On the afternoon of May 7, 2024, the life of Carlos Leton Searight, a 33-year-old Black man, was cut short by violence in his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama. The tragic event unfolded in the city’s East Lake community, where passing motorists in the 6800 block of 1st Avenue South noticed a person lying unresponsive in the front yard of a home and called 911 for help.
Birmingham Police Department officers responded to the scene just after 3:15 p.m. They found Mr.
Searight, who had been shot. Arriving paramedics with Birmingham Fire and Rescue pronounced him dead at the scene. During their initial investigation, police said they believed about nine rounds had been fired.
For three months, the Birmingham Police Department investigated the homicide. In the early stages, no suspects were in custody, and authorities worked to piece together the circumstances that led to Mr. Searight's death. Police later noted that help from the community was instrumental in moving the investigation forward.
A breakthrough in the case came on August 12, 2024, when police arrested 24-year-old Na'Derious Jackson of Center Point. He was charged with murder in the shooting death of Carlos Searight. Following his arrest, Jackson was booked into the Jefferson County Jail, where he was held without bond. As of August 2024, the case is pending legal proceedings.
