In the spring of 2020, the life of 29-year-old Adarius Utter, a Black or African American male, was cut short on the streets of Gadsden, Alabama. On the afternoon of May 15th, at approximately 4:30 p.m., Utter was fatally shot near the intersection of South 11th Street and Foster Avenue. He was quickly transported to a nearby hospital, but tragically succumbed to his injuries.
The Gadsden Police Department launched an immediate investigation into the shooting.
Their efforts led to the arrests of three individuals who were subsequently charged with manslaughter in connection with Utter's death. The suspects were identified as Andrea Jermain Banks, Mark Copeland, and an unnamed 17-year-old female.
Further details emerged about one of the suspects, Andrea Jermain Banks, who was a convicted felon. Due to a prior robbery conviction in Tuscaloosa County, Banks was prohibited from possessing a firearm and was held without bail following his arrest in connection to Utter's death. While arrests were made, the specific details leading up to the fatal shooting were not publicly disclosed by authorities. The community mourned the loss of Adarius Utter, with memorials and obituaries shared online to honor his memory.
