On the evening of July 10, 2024, Jonathan Lenair Bradberry, a 55-year-old male, was fatally shot as he was driving northbound on Interstate 65 near the 32nd Street exit in Birmingham, Alabama. Just prior to the incident, he had departed from an event in the 600 block of 9th Street North. Bradberry, a resident of Gardendale, was driving his sedan when the vehicle crashed into a concrete median after the shooting.
According to a witness account provided to the Birmingham Police Department,
an individual in a black pick-up truck fired multiple shots at Bradberry's vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene from the gunshot wounds. Known affectionately as 'Joe' and 'Phat Joe,' Bradberry was described as a generous, loving, and kind man who was the life of the party and enjoyed traveling, singing, and dancing. He was the owner and operator of Phat Joe's Trucking.
As of now, the investigation into Jonathan Bradberry's death remains ongoing. Law enforcement has not publicly identified any suspects or made any arrests in connection with the shooting. It has not been determined by authorities if the shooting was a random act of violence or if Bradberry was specifically targeted. Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama is actively seeking information from the public and has offered a cash reward for any tip that leads to an arrest in the case.
