On a tragic day in Decatur, Alabama, the life of 27-year-old Sharonda Lashay Bouldin was cut short. On February 28, 2018, Bouldin and her fiancé, David Gullate, were found shot to death inside their home on Clearview Street S.W. The grim discovery was made after a grandmother, hearing a baby crying inside the residence and having previously heard gunshots, called 911. When police officers arrived, they forced entry into the home and found the bodies of Bouldin and Gullate.
A young child was also found in the home, physically unharmed.
The investigation into the double homicide quickly led to a suspect. Witnesses reported seeing Kendall Rashid Rucker fleeing the home shortly after the gunshots were heard. Decatur Police located Rucker at another residence and took him into custody without incident. It was later revealed that the act was not random, as Rucker was reportedly the second cousin of David Gullate. The day after the discovery of the bodies, Rucker was charged with capital murder in connection with the deaths of Sharonda Bouldin and David Gullate. He was jailed in Morgan County without bond.
In the years that followed, the legal process unfolded. In April 2025, prosecutors announced their intention to seek the death penalty against Kendall Rucker. The capital murder trial began, and in January 2026, while incarcerated, Rucker faced new charges for allegedly attempting to kill another inmate inside the Morgan County Jail. The trial concerning the deaths of Bouldin and Gullate ultimately concluded in February 2026 with a Morgan County judge declaring a mistrial. The jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict. The case is expected to be reset for trial at a later date.
