In the predawn hours of September 2, 2023, an argument shattered the quiet of a Midfield, Alabama neighborhood, forever altering the course of multiple lives. During the dispute, 38-year-old Anthony Derrell Young, a Black male, was fatally shot. The incident occurred shortly before 3 a.m. in the 1200 block of 8th Avenue. When Jefferson County Sheriff's deputies arrived at the scene, they discovered Young suffering from a gunshot wound.
He was quickly transported to UAB Hospital for emergency medical treatment, but his injuries proved too severe, and he was pronounced dead.
The investigation into the shooting began immediately. Deputies at the scene were able to gather descriptions of the alleged shooter from witnesses. This information proved crucial, leading to the swift location and apprehension of a suspect. The man taken into custody was identified as 57-year-old Reuben Gerard Gillam.
Following his arrest, Reuben Gerard Gillam was charged with the murder of Anthony Derrell Young. In accordance with Aniah's Law, which allows judges to deny bail for individuals accused of violent felonies, Gillam was held in the Jefferson County Jail without bond. In the days that followed, family and friends mourned the loss of Young. A public visitation was held on September 15, 2023, followed by a funeral service the next day at New St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Bessemer.
