Gadsden police investigated the city’s second murder of 2018 Sunday afternoon when a call about shots fired led to the discovery of a man slumped in the back seat of a vehicle, suffering from a gunshot wound, according to Sgt. John Hallman.
Kevin L. Winston, 48, of Gadsden, was pronounced dead at the scene.
A suspect was identified in the crime and taken into custody a short time later in Attalla, with the help of the Attalla Police Department.
Police were called about 4:10 p.m. to the scene in the 2800 block of Shahan Avenue. Detectives believe the victim and suspect knew each other and were involved in some sort of altercation in front of a residence. The altercation escalated and the suspect shot the victim inside a vehicle.
The suspect is in custody, pending a formal charge of capital murder.
The investigation continues and anyone with information about the case is asked to call Det. Clark Hopper at 256-549-4635 or 256-549-4630.
One person has been charged in the city’s first murder of the year – the Thursday night shooting death of Aaron “A.J.” Huff, 18, of Gadsden.
Tyler Michael Abbott, 17, of Hanceville, was arrested the following day and has been charged as an adult with capital murder. He is being held without bond in the Etowah County Detention Center.
Detectives believe the two knew each other and met at a nearby parking lot, and were involved in an altercation prior to the shooting at the intersection of Litchfield Avenue and Hoke Street. Both left in separate vehicles. The vehicle in which Huff was a passenger at the intersection and the suspect was in a vehicle behind it.
A gunman got out of the second vehicle, went to the vehicle in which Huff was traveling and shot him. The driver of that vehicle took the Huff to a hospital.
The investigation into the shooting continues and detectives expect more charges. Anyone with information about the crime is asked to contact Det. Autumn Dickson at 256-549-4867.
Two men are in custody but have not been formally charged in connection with a shooting incident Saturday night outside the Waffle House on Rainbow Drive.
Officers responded about 9 p.m. to a report of shots fired and found an 18-year-old man, identifed on social media as Yhung Tooly, suffering from a gunshot wound. The suspects fled the scene, but officers got a description of them and their vehicle and, within minutes, they stopped the vehicle and arrested two men.
Officers then learned there was a second victim — Qhiniyia Hester, 10, of Gadsden — taken by a family member to a nearby hospital. She was flown to Children’s of Alabama in Birmingham. She is listed in critical but stable condition.
The 18-year-old is in stable condition at a Birmingham hospital.
Detectives learned that there were two groups outside the restaurant who got into an altercation, and multiple shots were fired.
The girl was a bystander, struck by a bullet as she crossed the parking lot.
More charges and arrests are possible as the investigation continues. Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Wayne Hammonds at 256-549-4613 or 256-549-4630.