In the late morning of May 20, 2020, the life of 27-year-old Xavier Portlock was tragically cut short in the parking lot of the Sunset on The Bayou Apartments in Mobile, Alabama. Portlock was in the process of securing his children in his car when he was fatally shot ten times. When police arrived at the scene on Brill Road around 9:54 a.m., they discovered Portlock suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He succumbed to his injuries at the location.
The investigation into the shooting quickly led to the identification of a suspect, 26-year-old Samuel Darrington. Darrington was located at the scene and taken into custody by the Mobile Police Department. He was subsequently arrested and faced charges of murder and discharging a firearm into an unoccupied vehicle. The case underscored the tragedy of the event, with the Mobile County District Attorney's Office highlighting that the crime was committed in the presence of Portlock's children.
Xavier Portlock, known to friends and family as 'PJ,' was a native of Mobile and a 2012 graduate of B.C. Rain High School, where he had excelled as a scholar and a member of the varsity football team. His commitment to his alma mater continued after graduation, as he volunteered his time as an assistant coach for the football team. He furthered his education at Bishop State Community College, earning a spot on the Dean's List multiple times and obtaining an Associate Degree in Diesel Engineering. At the time of his death, he was employed in construction to provide for his children. Friends and family remembered him for his kind nature, bright smile, and unwavering loyalty.
In September 2023, a Mobile County jury found Samuel Darrington guilty of murder and shooting into an unoccupied vehicle for the death of Xavier Portlock. The verdict was reached after evidence was presented in court detailing the events of that fatal morning. Darrington's sentencing was scheduled for October 27, 2023.
