On the afternoon of Sunday, November 23, 2025, Thomas Williams, 64, was found unresponsive with at least one gunshot wound on 17th Street Southwest at Laurel Avenue in Birmingham’s Powderly neighborhood. First responders and the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office pronounced him dead at the scene; coroner officials confirmed his death was from gunshot injuries and authorities immediately classified the case as a homicide. Reports place the shooting around 2:00 p.m., and a community member who saw Williams in distress called 911.

Investigators described the location as a dead-end residential street where Williams was discovered outside a vehicle. Within hours, detectives and the department’s Crime Reduction Team identified a suspect and arrested 64-year-old Bonita Brown several miles from the scene; she was charged with murder and booked into the Jefferson County Jail without bond. Police have not released a motive or full narrative and have not indicated they are seeking additional suspects; the investigation remains active as detectives gather witness statements and evidence.

Online tributes portray Williams as friendly and lighthearted, note his U.S. Army service and attendance at Wenonah, and record community grief. If anyone saw or heard anything in the Powderly area that afternoon, can you share what you remember with investigators or Crime Stoppers?