Matthew Gelpin

Matthew Alexander Gelpin, a man remembered for his big heart and for being the life of the party, was a 44-year-old Black man from Adamsville, Alabama. Known to his friends and family by the nicknames "Matt" and "3 Matt 3 OneO," he was a devoted father of five who was described as motivated, kind, tender-hearted, and driven to succeed. Those who knew him best said that to know him was to love him. He was a skilled HVAC technician, considered a "guru" in his field, and worked for Air Tech Mechanical Contractors. He was also known as a giver and a helpmate, always willing to lend a hand. His life, full of promise and connection, was brought to a sudden and violent end on a Monday afternoon in the fall of 2021.

The tragic events unfolded on November 22, 2021, in Birmingham’s Kingston neighborhood. At approximately 3:30 p.m., in the 4300 block of Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard North, a dispute began outside of Bates Auto Sales. Gelpin became involved in a verbal altercation with another man. The argument quickly escalated into a physical fight and then, catastrophically, into a gunfight between the two men. The sound of gunfire pierced the afternoon air, triggering an alert from the city’s ShotSpotter gunfire detection system, which registered multiple shots fired in the area and prompted an immediate police response.

Officers from the Birmingham Police Department’s South Precinct were dispatched to the scene. They arrived to find a grim sight: Matthew Gelpin was lying on the sidewalk, having sustained multiple life-threatening gunshot wounds. Personnel from Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service also responded to provide emergency medical aid, but Gelpin’s injuries were too severe. Despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene at 3:58 p.m. The area outside the auto dealership was cordoned off and became an active crime scene as detectives began their investigation into what was initially classified as a homicide.

The other man involved in the altercation did not flee. He remained at the scene and was detained by police for questioning. He was cooperative with investigators as they worked to piece together the sequence of events that led to the deadly shooting. Detectives with the Birmingham Police Department recovered weapons from both Gelpin and the other individual involved in the gunfight. The investigation sought to understand the origins of the dispute and the precise moments that led to the fatal shots being fired.

After a thorough investigation, which included processing the crime scene, analyzing evidence, and taking statements, Birmingham Police Department detectives presented their findings to the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office for a formal review. Prosecutors carefully assessed all the evidence, including the circumstances that led to the initial confrontation and the subsequent exchange of gunfire, to determine if criminal charges were warranted.

In December 2021, after reviewing the case, the District Attorney’s Office announced its decision. The shooting of Matthew Gelpin was ruled a justifiable act of self-defense. Based on this determination, prosecutors declined to file criminal charges against the individual who shot Gelpin. The Birmingham Police Department subsequently reclassified the case from a homicide to a justified death investigation. At the time, Gelpin's death was one of 106 homicide investigations conducted by Birmingham police in 2021; an additional 14 deaths, including Gelpin's, were ruled justifiable during that same year. The case is now considered closed by law enforcement.