VCU: Mentally Ill Man Killed Nurse in Random Robbery Outside DCH

Investigators say the man accused of fatally shooting a nurse in the parking lot of Tuscaloosa's DCH Regional Medical Center was mentally ill and targeted her at random.

At a Wednesday press conference, Captain Jack Kennedy, the commander of the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit, told local media that the Tuesday afternoon shooting was the first criminal homicide in Tuscaloosa County so far this year.

Kennedy said Tuscaloosa police officers were called to the parking lot of DCH Regional Medical Center on reports of a shooting at about 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday.

They found 27-year-old Ada Doss, an employee at DCH, who was walking to her car during a shift change. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

"Video showed that she was approached by the suspect, who brandished a firearm, and attempted to take her purse, during which she was shot once and immediately died," Kennedy said. "Video and another witness were also located that showed that the suspect attempted to rob another individual a few moments before, but that individual was able to drive away."

Kennedy said investigators have already identified and arrested the suspect, 41-year-old Mathew James Taylor, whose statements and history suggest he is mentally ill.

"Taylor was dropped off at the hospital earlier in the day at his request, reporting that 'he needed help.' Taylor did not enter the hospital after being dropped off, but loitered about the DCH campus for several hours, before suddenly engaging in the assaults. How he came to be in possession of a firearm is under investigation," Kennedy said.

Taylor was arrested and charged with capital murder before being placed in the Tuscaloosa County Jail on no bond. Kennedy said he had no serious criminal history before the Tuesday robbery-turned-murder.

"To get capital murder, not only do you have to intend to commit murder, but that murder has to be during one of the enhancing elements," Kennedy said. "Robbery is one of those elements. Clearly, we have probable cause to believe this was a robbery. After he shot this victim, he did go through her purse, take her keys and attempt to take her car."

By the count of the Tuscaloosa Thread staff, the Tuesday killing was the first homicide in the city of Tuscaloosa so far in 2026.

Almost all regional homicides in recent history were committed by people who knew their victims or during an altercation. The random nature of the Tuesday robbery and killing gave pause to the new chief of the Tuscaloosa Police Department, Michael Baygents, who officially took office about a week ago.

"We don't experience these very often. I was talking with the command staff earlier today, and I cannot remember the last time we had something of this nature," Baygents said. "So, this is an isolated incident."

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