Reginald Horn

Reginald Horn, a 22-year-old Black man from Birmingham, Alabama, was known to friends and family by the nickname "Reggie." He had attended both Minor High School and Parker High School in the Birmingham area. His life came to a sudden and violent end on a Saturday afternoon, September 12, 2020. A funeral service to honor his memory was held one week later at the Eastside Funeral Home Chapel in the Ensley neighborhood.

The tragic chain of events began that afternoon when the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office issued a "be on the lookout" alert for a white sedan. The alert was prompted by a report of a possible domestic-related kidnapping. According to police, a woman who had been in a romantic relationship with Reginald reported that he was holding her and her sibling against their will. The alert triggered a multi-agency response to locate the vehicle and the individuals involved.

Shortly after the broadcast, officers from the Fultondale Police Department spotted the white sedan near the 2200 block of 30th Avenue North in North Birmingham. As officers with the Birmingham Police Department were arriving at the location around 3:00 p.m., they heard the distinct sound of a gunshot. When they reached the scene, they found Reginald Horn lying unresponsive on the ground outside the car. He had sustained an apparent gunshot wound. Emergency responders from Birmingham Fire and Rescue were dispatched to the scene, but their efforts were in vain; Reginald was pronounced dead at the location.

The Birmingham Police Department’s Homicide Unit immediately launched an investigation into the shooting. According to a police spokesperson, Sgt. Rodarius Mauldin, the preliminary investigation suggested a complex and volatile situation. Detectives believed that Reginald had driven the woman and her sibling to a location near the 2001 block of 30th Avenue North. It was there that a physical altercation reportedly broke out, which ultimately resulted in Reginald being fatally shot. Investigators described the motive as being domestic in nature.

In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, police detained persons of interest for further questioning to piece together exactly what had happened. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the Fultondale Police Department assisted the Birmingham Police Department in securing the scene and conducting the initial investigation. While individuals were questioned, no arrests were made at the time.

Detectives presented the information and evidence gathered during their investigation to the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office for a formal review. This process is standard in cases involving a death to determine if criminal charges are warranted. On Wednesday, September 16, 2020, just four days after the shooting, the District Attorney’s office announced its conclusion. After assessing the evidence, prosecutors ruled that the shooting of Reginald Horn was a justifiable homicide.

Following this legal determination, the Birmingham Police Department officially reclassified the case from a homicide investigation to a "Justified Death Investigation." This ruling meant that, in the view of the law, the person who shot Reginald acted in self-defense or in the defense of another, and therefore no criminal charges would be filed. The case was subsequently considered closed. For informational purposes, authorities provided contact numbers for anyone who might have had information pertaining to the case: the Birmingham Police Department Homicide Unit at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.