In the quiet city of Anniston, Alabama, a life full of vibrancy and mentorship came to an abrupt and violent end. Carlos Derunt Miller, a 43-year-old Black man known affectionately as 'Peedie,' was fatally wounded on the evening of January 16, 2023. A mentor to many young men in his community, he was celebrated for a personality that could light up any room and a generosity that knew no bounds.
His love for dancing and his infectious smile were hallmarks of a man who was the life of every party. Friends and family remember a man with a heart of gold, someone who would give the shirt off his back to anyone in need.
The events that led to his untimely death unfolded around 9:45 p.m. in the 5100 block of McClellan Boulevard. Anniston Police Department officers, responding to reports of gunfire, discovered Miller at the scene suffering from gunshot wounds. He was rushed to the Northeast Alabama Regional Medical Center, but his injuries proved to be fatal. As investigators began to piece together the chaotic scene, they learned of a second gunshot victim who had been transported to a different hospital by a private vehicle. This individual was identified as 21-year-old Charrell Brown, who also succumbed to his injuries. The investigation would soon reveal that Miller and Brown were involved in the same tragic incident, having exchanged gunfire with one another.
In the days that followed the double homicide, the Anniston Police Department's investigation led them to a suspect. On January 17, 2023, investigators arrested 18-year-old Makotrick L. Ball in connection with the deaths of both Carlos Miller and Charrell Brown. Authorities charged Ball with murder, indicating his involvement in the fatal confrontation. While the specifics of Ball's role in the incident were not immediately disclosed, he was booked into the Calhoun County Jail. Due to a new state law, no bond was set for the charges he faced. The investigation into the shooting that claimed two lives remained ongoing as the community mourned the loss of one of its cherished members. A celebration of Carlos 'Peedie' Miller's life was held on January 28, 2023, where those who knew and loved him gathered to remember the man who had touched so many with his spirit and kindness.
