In the winter of 2014, a young man's life was tragically cut short in Albertville, Alabama. Willie Harris Cole Jr., a 22-year-old Black male, was fatally shot in the face with a shotgun on January 9, 2014. The violent act occurred at a residence on Valley View Drive where Cole, who was originally from Tuskegee, had been staying. The motive for the killing was believed to be robbery.
The investigation into Cole's death led authorities to four individuals from Gadsden.
Shontavious Williams, JaMichael Kinchen, Derunteze Parker, and Maya Morris were subsequently arrested and faced the grave charge of capital murder. The following month, a Marshall County judge determined there was enough evidence against the four to present the case to a grand jury for their consideration.
Willie's mother, Debbie Coleman, was left to grapple with the devastating loss of her only son. She expressed her profound grief and disbelief, stating that taking a life over money was an unjustifiable act and remembered her son as a good child.
