In a tragic turn of events on November 14, 2021, Quentinna LaSha James, a 47-year-old Black/African American female from the Opelika area, lost her life in what authorities have described as a murder-suicide. The grim discovery unfolded across two locations in East Alabama, leaving a family and community in mourning. Her death was the result of a gunshot wound, an act of violence that preceded her husband's own death.
The investigation began when authorities found David James,
Quentinna's 42-year-old husband, deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at a residence on County Road 114 in Lafayette. This led the Lee County Sheriff's Office to conduct a welfare check at the couple's home in the 6000 block of U.S. Highway 29 in Cusseta. It was there that deputies made the heartbreaking discovery of Quentinna James's body, also the victim of a fatal gunshot wound.
Preliminary findings from the investigation strongly suggest a sequence of events where David James first fatally shot his wife, Quentinna. Following this, he traveled to the location in Lafayette where he then took his own life. Both individuals were transported to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences in Montgomery for further examination to confirm the circumstances surrounding their deaths. The investigation concluded that David James was the sole suspect in the death of his wife, and with his subsequent suicide, the case was considered closed.
Quentinna LaSha James was remembered by her family, including her son, her mother, a brother, and a sister. Her obituary painted a picture of a beloved family member whose life was tragically cut short. The community was left to grapple with the sudden and violent loss of a couple, a stark reminder of the devastating impact of domestic violence.
