On a tragic Christmas Eve in 2017, a domestic disturbance in Troy, Alabama, escalated into a violent outburst that claimed the life of 56-year-old Eddie Keith Blair. Known to his friends as 'Key Soul,' Mr. Blair was a male victim in a shooting that injured four other people. The incident unfolded at a residence on Chapman Street on the morning of December 24th.
Responding to reports of gunfire, Troy police discovered a chaotic scene with multiple victims.
Inside the home, they found a 29-year-old man in the kitchen and a 49-year-old woman and a 57-year-old man in a bedroom, all suffering from gunshot wounds. Another injured individual was taken to the hospital by a private vehicle. Eddie Blair was located in the backyard of a neighboring home, having sustained a fatal gunshot wound to his leg. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The gunman, identified as 54-year-old Charles Louis Foster, surrendered to authorities at the police department. The investigation revealed that the shooting was connected to a domestic relationship between Foster and the female victim. Foster was subsequently charged with one count of murder for the death of Eddie Blair and four counts of attempted murder for the injuries sustained by the other victims.
In January 2020, Charles Louis Foster was sentenced to 48 years in prison for his crimes. During his sentencing, Foster expressed remorse, stating that he 'just snapped' and did not intend to kill anyone. The court took into consideration his military background and a mental health diagnosis of Bipolar PTSD. The tragic event left a significant void in the lives of Eddie Blair's sons and had a lasting impact on the survivors and the entire community.
