Amari Deonte King, 19, died just after midnight on November 20, 2021, when the vehicle he was riding in left Shelby County Road 17 near Pintaro Drive in Montevallo, Alabama, and struck a tree. A recent Montevallo High School graduate and freshman at the University of Montevallo, King was described as a young man who loved God and attended Shiloh Baptist Church.

King was a passenger; the driver, 18-year-old Bryan Cortes, and two other passengers were injured and taken to UAB Hospital. Authorities determined Cortes was driving under the influence of alcohol and charged him with reckless murder in connection with King’s death. The crash and charge deeply affected the Montevallo community.

If anyone knew Amari or has information about the crash, please share what you remember.