In the early morning hours of Sunday, November 26, 2023, the life of 23-year-old Darrell T’Shunn Maple of Talladega was cut short by violence in Sylacauga, Alabama. That morning, officers from the Sylacauga Police Department were dispatched to the Drew Court Housing Community after reports of gunfire. Inside an apartment on Fluker Street, they discovered Maple suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
First responders attempted to control his bleeding before he was rushed to Coosa Valley Medical Center, but his injuries proved fatal, and he was pronounced dead at 3:22 a.m. His death marked the eighth homicide in the city that year.
Darrell, born on July 8, 2000, was a beloved father to two young sons, Denver and Houston. He was remembered for his warm and vibrant presence, his infectious smile, and his kind and compassionate spirit that brought laughter and light to those around him. A 2018 graduate of Talladega County Central High School, he had been a standout athlete in both football and basketball. He was also an active and faithful member of Kingston Missionary Baptist Church, where he participated in the youth choir, praise dance team, and usher board. At the time of his passing, he was employed as a threader at Ameribolt, LLC.
The investigation into Maple's shooting death was a collaborative effort between the Sylacauga Police Department and the Talladega County Drug and Violent Crime Task Force. Their work led them to identify 22-year-old Tremarkus Tremaine Garrett of Sylacauga as a suspect. In a significant development on June 25, 2024, authorities announced Garrett's arrest on a Capital Murder warrant. At the time the warrant was served, Garrett was already incarcerated at the Talladega County Jail on unrelated charges. He is currently being held without bond.
