In the fall of 2018, a young Black/African American man's life was cut short in Fairfield, Alabama. Nineteen-year-old Ladarius De’Juan Whiteside was at a residence with a group of friends on the evening of Sunday, October 28, 2018. The gathering took a tragic turn when, just before midnight, a firearm was discharged inside the home. Whiteside was struck in the head by a single bullet.
He was rushed to a local hospital for medical attention but succumbed to his injuries in the early hours of Monday, October 29, 2018.
The investigation into the shooting quickly revealed that the group of friends had been handling firearms when the incident occurred. Authorities determined that the shooting was not intentional. The individual who fired the weapon was identified as Xavier Thompson, who was also 19 years old and a friend of Whiteside. According to police, Thompson accidentally shot his friend during what was described as 'gunplay.'
Following the investigation by the Fairfield Police Department, the details of the case were presented to the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office. Although the shooting was deemed accidental, the district attorney's office issued a warrant for Thompson's arrest. On Monday, October 29, 2018, the same day his friend passed away, Xavier Thompson was taken into custody and charged with manslaughter in the death of Ladarius De’Juan Whiteside.
