In the early morning hours of August 9, 2024, a dispute outside a Sheffield, Alabama nightclub escalated into a fatal shooting that claimed the life of 27-year-old Christopher Tyrone Fuqua Jr. The incident unfolded around 2:30 a.m. in the 200 block of South Columbia Avenue at a venue known as the Underground.
According to police reports, Fuqua was with a group of men when an argument broke out with another individual. During the confrontation, shots were fired, and Fuqua was struck.
He was rushed to Helen Keller Hospital but ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
The Sheffield Police Department quickly identified a suspect in the shooting, 23-year-old Tawan De'Angelo Southern of Florence, Alabama. Southern was also injured during the incident and was treated and released from a local hospital before being taken into custody. An arrest warrant was obtained, and he was transferred from the city jail to the Colbert County Jail, where he was held without bond.
Subsequent legal proceedings revealed more details about the events leading to Fuqua's death. During a preliminary hearing, an investigator testified that surveillance footage captured the altercation. According to court documents, an argument between Southern and the group of men that included Fuqua preceded the shooting. Southern allegedly fired into the group, fatally wounding Fuqua. The investigator also noted that Southern repeatedly claimed he was acting in self-defense.
A Colbert County grand jury later indicted Southern on a charge of reckless murder. His bond was set at $200,000, and he was scheduled for an arraignment on October 1, 2024.
