In the winter of 2018, the life of 21-year-old LaRonald Cortez McDaniel was cut short in an act of targeted gun violence in Bessemer, Alabama. On the evening of Saturday, January 13, McDaniel was found shot inside a vehicle in the 300 block of 18th Avenue North. He was rushed to UAB Hospital in Birmingham, but tragically, he was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival.
Authorities with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, who led the investigation, stated early on that the evidence
suggested McDaniel was intentionally targeted. Despite this initial assessment, the investigation into his death appears to have stalled, with no public announcements regarding any arrests or the identification of any suspects in the years that have followed.
LaRonald, born on January 17, 1996, was just days away from his 22nd birthday at the time of his death. Remembered by his family, his obituary paints a picture of a young man who, after attending several local schools, had trained to become a Bobcat driver for a construction company. His death left a void in the lives of his parents, siblings, and a host of other relatives and friends who mourned his sudden and violent passing. The case of who is responsible for the death of LaRonald Cortez McDaniel remains unresolved.
