David Gibbs Westbrook Jr., 50, was shot and killed in Birmingham on the night of May 23, 2022. Westbrook, a long‑time research scientist and lab manager at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, had taken his dog Dankers for a walk at a Woodlawn soccer field and was sitting in his car on 54th Street North preparing to leave when an unknown male approached the vehicle and fired as Westbrook attempted to back out. The car then rolled into a utility pole. Birmingham Police and Fire and Rescue arrived shortly before 11:00 p.m.; Westbrook was found with a gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The motive is unknown. Surveillance video captured a person of interest running from the scene, and Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama offered a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to an arrest. No arrests have been announced.

If anyone knew David, saw activity near the Woodlawn soccer field that night, or has information that could help the investigation, please come forward.