On a late Friday afternoon in Birmingham, Alabama, the life of a promising 18-year-old male, Alfred Lorenzo Jenkins Jr., a Black/African American, was tragically cut short. On August 12, 2022, at approximately 5:50 PM, Jenkins was at a Shell gas station located at 4012 Messer Airport Highway when he was ambushed and fatally shot. South Precinct officers arrived to find Jenkins inside the business, unresponsive and suffering from a gunshot wound.
He was quickly transported to UAB Hospital by Birmingham Fire and Rescue, but he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
Known professionally as the rapper 41st AJ, Jenkins was just beginning to make a name for himself in the local music scene. The preliminary investigation suggested a chilling scenario: multiple individuals opened fire on Jenkins before quickly fleeing the scene, leaving behind a community to grapple with the sudden violence. His death marked Birmingham's 85th murder investigation of 2022, a grim statistic in a year that saw a troubling rise in violent crime in the city.
The weeks leading up to Jenkins's death had been marred by violence that also touched his inner circle. Just weeks prior, his cousin and collaborator, Li Heat, was injured in a shooting that took the life of their friend. This series of events cast a dark shadow over the local music community, highlighting the dangers that often accompany burgeoning talent.
In the wake of the shooting, the Birmingham Police Department urged anyone with information to come forward, but at the time, no suspects were in custody. As of early 2026, there have been no publicly announced arrests or identification of suspects in the murder of Alfred Lorenzo Jenkins Jr. The case remains an open investigation, a painful and unresolved chapter for his family and the city of Birmingham. Funeral services for Jenkins were held on August 26, 2022, followed by his burial at Elmwood Cemetery.
