Birmingham, AL — A night meant for healing turned into another profound tragedy as two members of the same family were shot and killed during a gathering in Birmingham late Saturday. Authorities say 43-year-old Sonny Arrington of Clarksville, Tennessee, and 76-year-old Carlton Rufus Allen of Birmingham lost their lives when gunfire erupted inside an Ensley apartment during a post-funeral gathering.
Relatives had come together for a barbecue following the burial of a 29-year-old family member who was fatally shot in Fairfield just one week earlier. What was intended to be a moment of comfort instead became a devastating continuation of the family’s grief.
According to Birmingham police, officers responded to Tuxedo Terrace apartments off 20th Street shortly before 11:30 p.m. Upon arrival, they found Arrington and Allen deceased and a woman suffering from gunshot wounds. She was transported to UAB Hospital, where medical staff determined her injuries were not life-threatening.
Investigators later confirmed that several relatives were inside the home when shots rang out, intensifying the shock and emotional turmoil surrounding the incident.
Authorities have arrested a 26-year-old woman — identified as Arrington’s niece and Allen’s great-niece — in connection with the shooting. She is currently being held at the Birmingham City Jail as detectives prepare to pursue formal capital murder charges involving two or more victims. Police say her sister, the surviving victim, was also struck by gunfire. Early findings indicate the suspect fired into the apartment from outside, though investigators have not yet determined what sparked the deadly confrontation.
“What we know is that this is one large, closely connected family,” said Officer Truman Fitzgerald, adding that the situation remains under active investigation.
After the shooting, the Birmingham Police Department’s Special Enforcement Team launched an urgent search for the suspect. Working alongside Bessemer police, officers tracked her to a residence in Bessemer and arrested her within two hours. Fitzgerald praised the swift coordination, calling it a testament to the strong partnership between agencies.
The killings of Arrington and Allen have deepened the grief of a family already overwhelmed by recent violence. Loved ones remember Arrington as a devoted husband and father of seven, described on a GoFundMe page as “a kind and compassionate person who deeply loved his family.” He leaves behind his wife, Candace, and their children — two daughters and five sons.
As investigators continue to piece together what led to the deadly shooting, the family and wider community are grappling with yet another heartbreaking loss, mourning two lives cut short at a moment meant for remembrance and unity.