On a tragic Fourth of July in 2020, a celebration at the Crescent East Apartments in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, turned into a scene of violence that claimed the life of 28-year-old Kevin Matthews. Gunfire erupted shortly after midnight, leaving Matthews fatally wounded and another man injured.
Responding to the call, police discovered the two victims at the apartment complex. Both were suffering from gunshot wounds, and despite medical efforts, Kevin Matthews succumbed to his injuries.
The other victim survived the attack. The investigation into the shooting quickly pointed to Deanta Antwon Lavender as a suspect, and he, along with another individual, was subsequently charged with murder and attempted murder.
During the trial in April 2023, the prosecution presented a compelling case against Lavender. Three witnesses, including Lavender's own brother, took the stand and testified to seeing him repeatedly shoot Matthews. They also recounted how Lavender fired at the other man, who was attempting to take cover behind a vehicle. This testimony proved crucial in the jury's decision. Lavender was found guilty of murder, attempted murder, and an additional charge of discharging a firearm into an unoccupied vehicle.
Following his conviction, Deanta Antwon Lavender was sentenced to two concurrent life sentences for the murder and attempted murder charges. He also received a concurrent 10-year sentence for the firearms charge. Though Lavender later appealed his conviction, claiming insufficient evidence and questioning the credibility of the witnesses, the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the guilty verdict in May 2024. He is currently serving his sentences at the Fountain Correctional Center in Atmore.
