Birmingham, Alabama | June 12, 2024
A loved one of Ta’Darrius Omar Debodre Jones reached out to The Vivid Faces of the Vanished with one hope—that his story would continue to be shared until the person responsible is identified.
No family should have to beg for answers.
No child should have to grow up wondering why their father never came home.
A Targeted Attack
On June 12, 2024, Birmingham’s ShotSpotter gunfire detection system alerted police to approximately 20 rounds fired just after 12:08 a.m., about a block away from what investigators would soon discover was a homicide scene.
Responding officers initially found nothing.
Then, shortly afterward, an anonymous 911 caller reported that someone had been shot in the parking lot of a strip mall in the 1400 block of Third Avenue West, near historic Rickwood Field.
At approximately 12:23 a.m., Birmingham police arrived and found 30-year-old Ta’Darrius Jones lying face down on the pavement.
Birmingham Fire and Rescue personnel pronounced him dead at the scene.
Investigators described the attack as a targeted ambush.
According to Birmingham Police Sergeant LaQuitta Wade, an unknown individual walked directly up to Ta’Darrius, opened fire without warning, and fled.
Evidence at the scene reflected the violence.
Detectives recovered at least 30 shell casings surrounding Ta’Darrius’ body.
A vehicle was left running just 50 feet away.
Police said numerous people were gathered in the parking lot when the shooting occurred.
But as officers arrived, the crowd scattered, leaving investigators with few immediate witnesses.
Remembering “Taz”
Today, Ta’Darrius’ murder remains unsolved.
To those who knew him, he was much more than a homicide victim.
He was loving.
Kind.
Selfless.
Known for wearing a constant smile.
His sister, Terrica Jones, later spoke publicly about the unimaginable pain of arriving at the scene and seeing her brother lying behind police tape.
For her family, it reopened wounds that had never fully healed after they had already lost another brother to violence.
Ta’Darrius also leaves behind four young daughters.
At the time of his murder, another child was on the way.
His youngest daughter was born on October 31, 2024, never getting the chance to meet her father.
A Family’s Plea for Justice
In the words of his loved one:
“Tadarrius (Taz) meant a great deal to his loved ones, and his family deserves justice. Taz was the father of four young daughters; tragically, his life was cut short just months before he was set to meet his fourth child, born on October 31, 2024. He was someone very special to us, and now we are left only with memories. We are looking forward to receiving the closure that our family needs.”
Someone in that parking lot knows exactly what happened.
Someone saw the person who walked up to Ta’Darrius.
After more than a year, his family is still waiting for the truth.
Anyone with information regarding the murder of Ta’Darrius Omar Debodre Jones is urged to contact the Birmingham Police Department Homicide Unit at 205-254-1764 or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
© The Vivid Faces of the Vanished
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