On a warm Saturday evening, the day before he was to celebrate Father's Day with his four children, 30-year-old Erwin Jones lost his life in a sudden act of violence in Birmingham, Alabama. On June 17, 2017, as dusk settled around 7 p.m., Jones was sitting on a bench outside the Rickwood Apartments. He was with two other men when they were approached by two individuals.
The conversation that ensued was reportedly about stolen items.
The confrontation quickly escalated, and the two men who had approached pulled out guns and began firing. In the chaos that followed, Jones was struck in the back of his head. The shooters fled the scene, leaving a devastating outcome in their wake.
Emergency services arrived to a grim scene. Despite their efforts, Erwin Jones could not be saved. His wife, Deandrea Johnson, would later recount the family's plans for Father's Day, a celebration that was tragically stolen from them. In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, Birmingham police began their investigation, but no arrests were announced in the days that followed. The community was left to mourn the loss of a young father, his life cut short in a senseless dispute.
