Tuscaloosa VCU Makes Arrest in Unsolved 2021 Murder at Hay Court

The Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit has made an arrest after earning an indictment in an unsolved 2021 murder case which saw a 28-year-old fatally shot in Hay Court.

There are very few unsolved homicides in modern Tuscaloosa County, and the VCU can boast one of the highest arrest rates of any investigative unit in the state. Even so, there are a handful of cases that have gone "cold," with no suspect in custody years after the killing.

One such case was the fatal shooting of Trevoris Sheppard, a 28-year-old who died after he was shot while walking to his home at Hay Court Apartments in October 2021.

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On Thursday, Captain Jack Kennedy of the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit announced the indictment and arrest of Federick Dewayne Lewis, a 22-year-old Moundville man charged with Sheppard's murder.

Kennedy said known evidence, new leads, advanced technology and community involvement all combined to give investigators enough evidence to earn the indictment from a grand jury that recently convened.

“All homicide cases are a priority for the Violent Crimes Unit, and all cases remain active and open until an arrest has been made. All investigators that worked on this case, from the initial response, the continual follow-up, and the eventual reexamination and presentation to grand jury are to be commended.”

The homicide Lewis is accused of committing took place weeks before he turned 19.

Lewis was placed in the Tuscaloosa County Jail on Saturday and has since been released on a $75,000 bond.

For more coverage of crime and courts in West Alabama, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.