Brad Burt Doleys

Brad Burt Doleys was a man who found his calling in helping others, dedicating his career to counseling and therapy with a unique style that blended humor, love, and strength. Born on June 14, 1970, he spent his early years in Montgomery and Birmingham, Alabama. After earning his Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Psychology, he began a lifelong mission to support the mental health of countless children and adults. In 2001, Brad moved to Gadsden and started working at Mountain View Hospital. It was in Gadsden that he built a full life, becoming a husband, father, grandfather, and a cherished son-in-law and uncle. Known for his big personality and easy way of making everyone feel special, he believed that laughter was the greatest healer. He was an admirer of figures like Arnold Schwarzenegger, often sharing their inspirational quotes and delighting friends with his impersonations. To those who knew him, Brad was a devoted friend and family man who worried more about others than himself.

The afternoon of Tuesday, June 22, 2021, turned tragic on the East Meighan Boulevard bridge in Gadsden. Around 1:30 p.m., near the intersection with Hood Avenue, a minor vehicle collision occurred between the car Brad was driving and another vehicle. An altercation followed between Brad, age 50, and the other driver, identified as Joseph Edward Burnett, then 37, of Guntersville. During the confrontation, Burnett allegedly fired multiple shots into Brad's vehicle at close range. Some reports suggested the bumpers of the two cars may have been locked together, preventing either from leaving the scene immediately.

When Gadsden Police Department officers and other first responders arrived, they found Brad suffering from gunshot wounds. Burnett was taken into custody at the scene without incident. Brad was rushed by ambulance to Gadsden Regional Medical Center and later transferred to UAB Hospital in Birmingham for treatment of his critical injuries. Despite the efforts of medical staff, Brad Burt Doleys passed away three days later, on Friday, June 25, 2021. The cause of death was the injuries he sustained in the shooting.

The Gadsden Police Department led the investigation into the homicide. Initially, Joseph Edward Burnett was charged with attempted murder. Following Brad's death, that charge was upgraded to capital murder. Burnett was booked into the Etowah County Detention Center, where he was held without bond. At the time of the arrest, investigators had not publicly released a motive for the fatal shooting.

In the wake of the tragedy, Brad’s family expressed their deep gratitude to the Gadsden Police and Fire Departments, AMed Ambulance Service, the emergency departments at Gadsden Regional and UAB, and the organ donation organization Legacy of Hope for their assistance during the most difficult time of their lives. In his obituary, his family wrote, "To know Brad Doleys was to know that there was no time that humor was not appropriate and that laughter is the greatest healer of all. He made the world a better place... this world is less for his loss." They asked that to honor his legacy, people should live life to the fullest and give back to make the world a better place.

A memorial service was held on July 2, 2021, at Riverchase United Methodist Church in Birmingham, followed by a celebration of life gathering in Gadsden on July 11 at the Venue at Coosa Landing. In lieu of flowers, the family suggested donations to Riverchase United Methodist Church, Lucy's Hope, or Mental Health America of Etowah County, reflecting Brad's lifelong commitment to his faith and community mental health.

The legal case against Joseph Edward Burnett proceeded through the court system. In August 2023, Burnett pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of murder as part of a plea agreement. He was subsequently sentenced to 30 years in prison. The case is now considered closed with this conviction and sentencing, bringing a legal conclusion to a senseless act of violence that took the life of a man remembered for his immense compassion and ability to heal with laughter.