In the small town of Mount Vernon, Alabama, a dispute between neighbors on a September afternoon escalated into a tragedy that ended the life of Tavoris McConnell Sr. On September 17, 2024, the 35-year-old man was fatally shot in a grassy field near Shepard Lake Road East. McConnell, a father of five, was known by loved ones as a lively person who was the funniest person and the best cook they knew. His sudden death left his friends and family heartbroken and in disbelief.
The events leading to the shooting reportedly began with an argument over property between McConnell and his neighbor, Daryl Files. Witnesses on the scene informed investigators from the Mobile County Sheriff's Office that the verbal altercation turned violent when Files allegedly shot McConnell. Despite the arrival of medical assistance, McConnell succumbed to his injuries at the scene. While investigators were told an argument preceded the shooting, a neighbor who lived across the street recalled hearing a loud noise like an explosion but no arguing beforehand. That neighbor described seeing McConnell lying on the ground with blood coming from his neck.
In the immediate aftermath, law enforcement took a suspect into custody for questioning. That individual was later identified as Daryl Files. Detectives interviewed Files, who provided his statement on the incident. The Mobile County Sheriff's Office, in consultation with the District Attorney's office, announced that the case would be presented to a grand jury for further action. The investigation has left the tight-knit community of Mount Vernon grappling with the loss of one of its own and the unsettling reality of a violent death in their midst.
