Desmond Cortez Burton, a 31-year-old man, was fatally shot on Sunday, May 29, 2016, in Tarrant, a city near Birmingham, Alabama. The incident occurred around 4 p.m. in the 1200 block of Elizabeth Avenue. Responding to a report of a person shot, Tarrant police officers discovered Burton inside a vehicle, suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the Jefferson County Coroner's Office.
The investigation into Burton's death quickly led to a person of interest.
Within days, authorities announced the arrest of Michael Jerome Powell, a 43-year-old convicted felon. The shooting reportedly stemmed from an argument between Burton and Powell, who were acquainted. According to witnesses, the two men were engaged in a verbal altercation that escalated, culminating in Powell allegedly shooting Burton.
Michael Jerome Powell was officially charged with murder in the death of Desmond Cortez Burton. His criminal history, which includes a prior felony conviction, was a factor in the case. Following his arrest, Powell was held in the Jefferson County Jail. The legal proceedings that followed saw Powell facing the consequences of the fatal encounter that cut short the life of Desmond Cortez Burton.
