In the early morning hours of October 26, 2024, the community of Union Springs, Alabama, was shaken by an act of violence that claimed the lives of two teenagers. David Lamar Benton Jr., a 19-year-old Black male, was tragically killed in a shooting incident that also resulted in the death of 19-year-old Adrian Dequon Tarver. The event unfolded around 3 a.m.
in the 300 block of Waugh Street, where multiple individuals were involved in the altercation that ultimately led to the double homicide.
Following the shooting, the Union Springs Police Department requested the assistance of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency's State Bureau of Investigation to lead the death investigation. Special Agents from the SBI responded to the scene to commence their inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the two young men. In addition to the two fatalities, it was reported that three other people were injured during the incident.
As of late 2024, authorities had remained quiet regarding the details of the ongoing investigation. No suspects have been publicly identified, and no arrests have been announced in connection with the murders of David Lamar Benton Jr. and Adrian Dequon Tarver. The lack of information has left the victims' families and the community awaiting answers and grappling with the loss. An online forum post from December of that year noted the frustration and pain of the families as they waited for any progress in the case to be revealed by law enforcement.
