Brothers Arrested for November Ambush Shooting in West Tuscaloosa

Two young brothers have been arrested and charged with attempted murder for their alleged roles in an "ambush-style" shooting that led to a gunfight in West Tuscaloosa late last year.

According to court documents filed this week, the incident occurred before dawn on November 9th, at around 4:15 a.m. Depositions say a group of people emerged from behind a church on Dinah Washington Avenue and opened fire on two would-be victims.

"From looking at the video of the shooting, [...] this was an ambush-style attack by walking up in the dark with some of the individuals shooting from behind cover," an investigator wrote.

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Police say the intended targets were also armed, returned fire, and in the ensuing gunfight, dozens of shots were fired. Fortunately, a spokesperson for the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit said they do not believe anyone was injured in the shootout.

After the November 9th shooting, the VCU collected forensic evidence such as shell casings, examined video of the shooting from multiple angles, and recovered firearms during searches. With that evidence and other investigative tools, police obtained arrest warrants in early December for 21-year-old Antonio Deworren Gaines, Jr., and his 20-year-old brother, Lamorris Dewayne Gaines.

Almost two months later, the brothers were captured on Thursday in DeKalb County, Georgia, and brought back to the Tuscaloosa County Jail. They remain booked there on Tuesday afternoon, with their bonds set at $1 million each.

The investigation is still active, and other arrests related to the November shootout may follow. For more exclusive coverage of crime and courts in West Alabama, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.