In the late afternoon of September 24, 2024, a dispute escalated to violence at a Big Boy Convenience Store in the southwest area of Birmingham, Alabama, culminating in the shooting death of 26-year-old Malike Williams. The confrontation, which authorities believe may have been sparked by a social media post, involved Williams and another individual. Both men were armed, and during the altercation, shots were fired.
Williams sustained a fatal gunshot wound and died while being transported to UAB Hospital.
Following an investigation into the shooting, the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office reviewed the evidence presented by detectives. Based on the circumstances, which indicated an armed confrontation between two individuals, the district attorney ruled that the shooting of Malike Williams was justifiable. As a result of this determination, no criminal charges were pursued against the other person involved in the incident.
The tragedy was compounded by another fatal shooting that occurred less than four hours after Williams' death. His close friend, 34-year-old Damone Gardner, was shot and killed in what investigators believe may have been an argument related to Williams' earlier death. In connection with Gardner's homicide, police later arrested a suspect, identified as Brandon Gemson. Gemson was taken into custody on a murder warrant for the death of Gardner and is being held in the Jefferson County Jail without bond.
