On the evening of January 5, 2023, in Marion, Alabama, a sense of normalcy was shattered by an act of violence that would claim the life of Christopher Warren Lewis, a 30-year-old Black male. Lewis was shot and killed around 8:00 p.m. during what authorities have described as a robbery. Following the shooting, he was transported by a private vehicle to Hale County Hospital in Greensboro, but tragically, he succumbed to his injuries.
The violence did not end with Lewis's death. In the early hours of the following day, a second shooting occurred in Marion, resulting in the death of Shaquille Martin. Law enforcement officials believe this second homicide was a retaliatory act connected to the killing of Lewis. The string of violence prompted city officials to impose a temporary curfew in an effort to restore calm and prevent further bloodshed.
In the wake of the shootings, the community mourned the loss of Christopher Lewis. His funeral services were held on January 21, 2023, at Morning Star Baptist Church in Marion, followed by his burial at Morning Star Cemetery.
The investigation into Lewis's murder led to a significant development in early 2025. Darren Tyrone Brooks Jr., a 23-year-old also known by the alias 'Dog Face,' was indicted by a Perry County grand jury in August 2024 in connection with Lewis's death. The indictment, filed in circuit court on January 3, 2025, charges Brooks with two counts of capital murder. One count alleges that Lewis was killed during a robbery with a deadly weapon, while the second count states that Lewis was killed while he was in a vehicle. Court documents indicate the alleged motive for the robbery was the theft of marijuana. Brooks was arrested on January 2, 2025, and is being held without bond. If convicted of the capital murder charges, he could face the death penalty. Brooks had also been arrested in connection with the retaliatory shooting of Shaquille Martin.
