In the summer of 2016, a pillar of the Mobile, Alabama community, 90-year-old Booker T. Green, a Black male and veteran of World War II, found his life tragically cut short. On July 21st, while sitting in his vehicle at the intersection of Pecan Street and Belsaw Avenue, he was approached by a group of young men. They demanded money, and when the nonagenarian refused, he was shot in the shoulder. Despite his resilience, Mr.
Green succumbed to his injuries six days later, on July 27, 2016.
The senseless act of violence against a man who had served his country in the 92nd Infantry Division, known as the Buffalo Soldiers, during the second World War, sent shockwaves through the city. An investigation was swiftly launched, leading to the apprehension of four individuals. The suspects were identified as Xavier Graham, then 21; James Crandle, 24; Gregory Crandle, 18; and Glenn Tabb, 25. All four men were subsequently charged with capital murder in connection with the robbery and fatal shooting of Mr. Green.
The legal process began to unfold, bringing some measure of justice for the heinous crime. In February of 2020, one of the accused, James Crandle, entered a guilty plea to the charge of murder. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison for his role in the death of Booker Green. The cases against the remaining three defendants, Xavier Graham, Gregory Crandle, and Glenn Tabb, continued to move through the court system, each facing the consequences of their alleged involvement in the events that led to the untimely death of a respected community elder.
