Crime
Victims killed in domestic shooting inside Birmingham apartment identified as Sonny Arrington and Carlton Allen
A Tennessee father of seven was among two family members killed in a late-night domestic shooting inside a Birmingham apartment, authorities confirmed.
The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office identified the victims as Sonny Arrington, 43, of Clarksville, Tennessee, and Carlton Rufus Allen, 76, of Birmingham.
The fatal shooting occurred as relatives had gathered for a family barbecue following the funeral of a 29-year-old man who had been shot and killed in Fairfield one week earlier.
A 26-year-old woman, who is Arrington’s niece and Allen’s great-niece, has been arrested and is currently being held in the Birmingham City Jail pending formal charges for capital murder involving two or more victims, authorities said.
The suspect’s sister was also wounded in the shooting but is expected to survive. She was transported to UAB Hospital, where doctors determined her injuries were not life-threatening.
The gunfire erupted just before 11:30 p.m. Saturday at an apartment located in the Tuxedo Terrace complex off 20th Street in the Ensley neighborhood.
Officers from the West Precinct arrived to find Allen and Arrington deceased at the scene, along with the wounded sister.
Police confirmed that multiple family members were inside the apartment when the shooting occurred.
Investigators also reported that the number of shots fired was in the double digits.
According to Officer Truman Fitzgerald, preliminary evidence indicates that a family member fired gunshots into the apartment from outside the residence.
“We don’t yet know what sparked the argument,” Fitzgerald said. “What we do know is that this is one large, closely connected family.”
The Birmingham Police Department’s Special Enforcement Team (SET) was immediately deployed, and officers received a tip that the suspect may have been headed toward Bessemer.
Working alongside Bessemer police, authorities located and arrested the suspect at a residence in Bessemer approximately two hours after the shooting.
“A capital murder suspect being taken into custody within two hours of the shooting speaks to the focus and dedication of our officers and the strength of our partnership with our fellow law enforcement agencies,” Fitzgerald stated.
With the deaths of Allen and Arrington, Birmingham has now recorded its 78th and 79th homicides of the year.
Family members described Sonny Arrington as a devoted husband and father. A GoFundMe page established to assist his family described him as “a kind and compassionate person who deeply loved his family.” His death leaves behind his wife, Candace, and their seven children — two daughters and five sons — as they face the difficult realities of grief and financial uncertainty, especially with the holidays approaching.
Relatives confirmed that many family members had gathered at the apartment following the funeral of Ja’Oree Marquel Brown-Allen, whose death one week earlier had already left the family in mourning.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Crime
16-year-old Khyon Smith-Tate found shot to death inside Chipotle bathroom on edge of Temple University’s campus in North Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA — A 16-year-old boy was fatally shot inside the bathroom of a Chipotle restaurant near Temple University’s campus in North Philadelphia on Monday afternoon, police said, as students and staff returned for the first day of the Spring 2026 semester.
The shooting occurred at approximately 5:00 p.m. inside the Chipotle located in the 1100 block of West Montgomery Avenue, on the ground floor of The View at Montgomery apartment complex. The building is situated near Temple University’s Student Center and TECH Center.
Police later identified the victim as Khyon Smith-Tate, a North Philadelphia resident. Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said Smith-Tate was found with a gunshot wound to the chest and was pronounced dead at 5:24 p.m.
Temple University President John Fry and Vice President for Public Safety and Chief of Police Jennifer Griffin issued a joint statement following the incident:
“The loss of life to gun violence is a profound tragedy, and there are no words that can make sense of it. Our thoughts are with the victim’s family and loved ones.”
According to investigators, Smith-Tate and another minor entered the restaurant and requested access to the restroom. Chief Inspector Small said the shooting is believed to have occurred inside the bathroom.
Moments later, employees discovered Smith-Tate suffering from a gunshot wound. Police recovered one spent shell casing from a semiautomatic weapon inside the restroom.
Although the victim’s last known address was approximately eight blocks from the scene, authorities have not indicated what brought him to the location or what led to the shooting.
At the time of the incident, the restaurant was crowded, and multiple individuals inside the business were detained briefly for questioning. However, police said they have not yet obtained any statements from witnesses who reported hearing a gunshot.
A person of interest was taken into custody several blocks from the scene shortly after the shooting, but Chief Inspector Small said that individual’s involvement remains unclear.
As of Tuesday, police confirmed that no arrests have been made and no motive has been established.
Investigators believe Smith-Tate entered the restroom with another minor, though the whereabouts of that individual remain unknown.
Police are also seeking information about three possible suspects, described as teenagers carrying backpacks.
Chief Inspector Small noted that the area is equipped with numerous surveillance cameras, which detectives are reviewing as part of the ongoing investigation.
Authorities are asking anyone with information related to the incident to contact the Philadelphia Police Department.