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.
Orlando, Fla. — Family and friends of 33-year-old Julien Emmanuel Cruz are seeking answers and accountability following his fatal shooting outside a popular LGBTQ+ nightclub early Sunday morning.
According to the Orlando Police Department, officers responded at approximately 2:31 a.m. on February 22, 2026, to the 1900 block of North Orange Avenue, just north of Lake Ivanhoe, in reference to a reported shooting.
Upon arrival, officers located Cruz suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Authorities confirmed Cruz was born May 18, 1992.
Detectives determined that prior to the shooting, Cruz and the suspect were involved in a verbal and physical altercation on the sidewalk outside the nightclub district. Investigators say that during the dispute, the suspect retrieved a firearm from his vehicle and shot Cruz.
The suspect fled the scene in a vehicle, which patrol officers later located in the 200 block of East New Hampshire Avenue, approximately two blocks from where the shooting occurred.
Police subsequently arrested 37-year-old Jean Gabriel Borja Gil De La Madr (DOB: October 29, 1988). He has been charged with Second Degree Murder with a Firearm. Authorities confirmed this case marks the third homicide in Orlando in 2026.
Cruz’s father, Anthony Cruz, said his son and his partner had been at Savoy Orlando enjoying the evening before the violence unfolded.
According to the family, as the couple exited the club after closing time, a vehicle sped past them. Cruz’s partner allegedly yelled toward the occupants of the vehicle, prompting the car to stop. A physical altercation then reportedly began between Cruz’s partner and one of the individuals from the vehicle.
“When they fought, my son saw that was happening. My son went to intervene, and when he intervened, another guy got out of the car, and he got shot,” Anthony Cruz said. “My son didn’t deserve what happened. All I have left is a shirt — a shirt with a bullet hole.”
While police have charged Borja Gil De La Madr, Cruz’s family maintains that another individual may have been directly responsible for pulling the trigger. Authorities have not publicly confirmed whether additional suspects are being sought.
A small memorial has formed across from the nightclub, where members of the community have gathered to honor Cruz’s memory.
Joshua Cooper, owner of Savoy Orlando, said the tragedy has deeply impacted the LGBTQ+ community, even though the shooting occurred off the club’s property.
“I didn’t know the victim, but from everything I’ve been told, I wish I had,” Cooper said. “He seemed like a great kid. Seeing a family that is so heartbroken and so supportive of this community says so much.”
The Orlando Police Department has not released additional information regarding potential additional suspects. Detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the altercation and shooting.
Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Orlando Police Department or Crimeline.
The investigation remains active.