It was a Tuesday evening in Fairfield, Alabama, when the tranquility of Glen Crest Drive was shattered by the roar of a high-powered weapon. On April 27, 2021, Deangelo Dewayne Poole, a 24-year-old Black man, was with a group of friends at a park in the 200 block of the residential street. As they congregated, a vehicle approached, and without warning, a barrage of bullets was unleashed upon them in a targeted, drive-by assault. The sudden violence left a scene of chaos and devastation, with five men struck by gunfire.
When the Jefferson County Sheriff's deputies arrived at approximately 7:45 p.m., they found a harrowing sight. Four of the men were wounded, and Deangelo Poole was pronounced dead at the scene. The survivors were rushed to UAB Hospital for treatment, their conditions initially unknown.
The park, a place of community gathering, was now a crime scene, cordoned off as detectives began the painstaking process of collecting evidence and piecing together the events that led to the deadly shooting. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office immediately launched an investigation, seeking assistance from the public for any information that might lead to the apprehension of those responsible.
In the days that followed, the community grappled with the senseless act of violence. Local pastors gathered at the park where Deangelo lost his life, their voices united in a plea to end the gun violence that they said was plaguing their community. The mayor of Fairfield also expressed his commitment to addressing the violence, vowing to work with law enforcement to create a plan to make the city safer. The incident was a stark reminder of the city's struggle with a high crime rate, which was reported to be significantly above the national average that year.
A public viewing for Deangelo was held, allowing friends and community members to pay their respects. On Saturday, May 8, 2021, a graveside service was held at Elmwood Mausoleum in Birmingham, where those who knew and loved Deangelo gathered to say their final goodbyes. The online guestbook for his obituary filled with messages of sorrow and prayers for his family. One entry remembered him as "a wonderful person," while others offered condolences and wished for peace and strength for his grieving loved ones.
Years have passed since that tragic evening, but the case of Deangelo Poole's death remains unsolved. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office has continued to seek information from the public, and Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama has offered a cash reward for any tip that leads to an arrest. Despite these efforts, no suspects have been publicly identified, and no arrests have been made. The motive behind the targeted shooting remains a mystery, leaving Deangelo's family and friends without answers and without justice. The investigation into his death is still open, a cold case waiting for a break that will bring closure to a community still mourning the loss of a young life cut short.
