Local News
Bodies of Missing 8-Year-Old RaShad Jackson and 26-year-old Stephon Gardner Recovered from Midfield Rock Quarry
BIRMINGHAM, AL – The bodies of two family members who went missing while fishing at a rock quarry in Midfield on Saturday have been recovered, officials confirmed Sunday.
Midfield Mayor Gary Richardson identified the victims as 8-year-old Rashad Jackson and his 26-year-old cousin, Stephon Gardner, both residents of Midfield. The child’s body was recovered first, followed shortly by the discovery of Gardner’s remains.
Specialized dive teams from the Hoover Police Department and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office resumed search efforts around 8:00 a.m. Sunday.
Their operations had been paused the night before due to darkness, though sonar-equipped boats continued scanning the water throughout the night.
At approximately 2:30 a.m., sonar detected an object at a depth of 82 feet, prompting divers to concentrate their efforts in that area.
Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service (BFRS) also returned to assist at approximately 8:30 a.m. as recovery operations continued at the private quarry site, located along 1550 Hartman Industrial Boulevard near the Holcim Birmingham Slag Plant.
The emergency response began Saturday at 5:04 p.m. after a 911 call reported a person had fallen into the water near Bessemer Avenue and Myrtle Avenue.
The address was later updated to the Midfield industrial site, a location known for unauthorized recreational use despite being private property.
BFRS Battalion Chief Clay Hendon said first responders learned that Rashad had fallen into the quarry while fishing. Gardner, his adult cousin, jumped in after him in an attempt to rescue the boy. Tragically, neither of them resurfaced.
“There were witnesses at the scene, but all of them left before law enforcement arrived,” Hendon said. He added that some witnesses reportedly entered the water to try to help but were unsuccessful.
The area where the incident occurred features a steep drop of approximately 10 feet from the ledge to the water, with depths reaching up to 30 feet in some sections.
Hendon explained that while surface visibility in the quarry water is relatively clear, it becomes significantly darker and more difficult to navigate below the surface.
By 7:15 p.m. Sunday, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office had deployed both dive teams and drones to assist in the ongoing efforts.
Authorities acknowledged early on that the operation had transitioned from a rescue to a recovery mission due to the amount of time the victims had been submerged.
Numerous family members and friends remained at the scene throughout the day, many visibly distraught as divers worked to bring closure to the tragic incident.
An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the drownings remains ongoing.
Local News
29-Year-Old Alex Rodriguez Found Dead on University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, No Foul Play Suspected
URBANA, Ill. — A 29-year-old Champaign man found dead on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus Monday morning has been identified as Alex C. Rodriguez, according to the Champaign County Coroner’s Office.
The University of Illinois Police Department (UIPD) responded to the area of Green and Wright streets at approximately 6:42 a.m. after receiving a report of an unresponsive person near the Alma Mater statue.
Officers arrived and found Rodriguez on a concrete bench. Emergency medical assistance was requested at the scene.
The Champaign County Coroner’s Office responded, and Rodriguez was pronounced dead at approximately 7:16 a.m., according to Coroner Laurie Brauer.
Authorities said Rodriguez was not affiliated with the University of Illinois.
UIPD provided an update Monday afternoon, saying preliminary observations at the scene revealed no signs of foul play.
Police also said there was no evidence of an ongoing threat to the university campus or surrounding community based on the information available when officers responded.
Because investigators did not identify an active threat, the university did not issue an Illini-Alert emergency notification.
The circumstances surrounding Rodriguez’s death have not been determined.
An autopsy has been scheduled, and the death remains under investigation by the University of Illinois Police Department.
Authorities have not released additional information about the circumstances leading to Rodriguez’s death.
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional details are expected as investigators receive further information from the autopsy and other evidence.
No foul play has been indicated based on the preliminary investigation.