In the winter of 2009, just two days before Christmas, the life of 21-year-old Kortney Alexander Nichols, an African-American male, was tragically cut short in Birmingham, Alabama. He had only just begun a new chapter, having moved into his own apartment at the Aspen Run complex a mere four days prior to his death on December 23rd. The joy of this new independence was shattered when he was fatally shot during what authorities determined to be an attempted robbery.
The incident unfolded
when individuals, using a fabricated name to deceive him, knocked on his door. When Nichols understandably told them no one by that name lived there, they attempted to force their way into his apartment. As he struggled to keep the door closed, a shot was fired through it, striking and killing him. The act was not random; it was believed to have been orchestrated by someone who knew Nichols.
The Birmingham Police Department's investigation into the murder led to the arrests of four individuals who were subsequently charged in connection with the death of Kortney Nichols. The suspects were identified as Kourtney Collins, Joshua Deloach, Derrick Young, and Michael Johnson. Another individual, Carlos Heard, was also later charged with murder. All the accused were taken into custody and booked at the Jefferson County Jail.
The violent death of Kortney Nichols left a deep and lasting wound on his family. His mother, Shelisa Nichols, spoke of the immense difficulty her family faced in the wake of his murder. The loss was particularly hard on his younger brother, who was very close to him. Kortney also left behind a young daughter who would only come to know her father through the stories and pictures shared by her family. Funeral services for Kortney were held on January 2, 2010, at St. Joseph Baptist Church in Birmingham, and he was laid to rest in Oakland Cemetery.
