Third Suspect Arrested and Charged in Friday Shooting of 13-Year-Old in Tuscaloosa

Hours after a second suspect in the Friday shooting of a 13-year-old boy was transported to the Tuscaloosa County Jail, investigators announced they had taken a third suspect into custody.

Investigators identified Jaden Zaire Jenkins, 19, as the latest suspect in the shooting.

According to Captain Jack Kennedy, the commander of the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit, the incident occurred around 6:20 p.m. Friday on Washington Square in West Tuscaloosa. Tuscaloosa Police Officers responded to reports of a shooting, and upon arrival found the 13-year-old boy dead at the scene.

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The victim, Kei'lan Allen, had been sitting in his room, playing on his iPad, when multiple gunshots were fired from a vehicle towards the house. Bullets came through his bedroom window window, striking him in the head.

The Tuscaloosa VCU immediately assumed the investigation.

According to Kennedy, multiple rounds from multiple firearms were shot towards the house. Investigators believe the intended target was an older family member. A possible motive he said could be either gang related, or stemming from previous arguments with the intended target.

• James Deanthony Reed, 18, (far left in image) was the first suspect taken into custody Sunday night
• Julian Lamont Gordon, Jr., 21, (middle)  was taken into custody Monday afternoon
• Jaden Zaire Jenkins, 19, (far right) was taken into custody Monday evening.

All three individuals are being charged with capital murder, without bond.

Capital murder is the most serious charge available to prosecutors in Alabama. Suspects are held without bond until they go to trial, and if convicted of capital murder, the only two sentencing options available are life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty.

Kennedy told members of the media that this investigation is still active and ongoing.