A deadly incident unfolded at the Academy Sports + Outdoors Store at Festival Centre in Mobile, Alabama, on the afternoon of July 4, 2024. The local community was left reeling after multiple gunshots rang out in the store’s parking lot around 4:54 p.m.
Mobile police responded to the scene, finding 22-year-old DeShaun Bonner with a gunshot wound. Despite being rushed to the hospital, Bonner later succumbed to his injuries.
An eyewitness, who chose to remain unidentified, recalled the shocking event: “I was sitting in my car, and all of a sudden, I heard gunshots. I saw a bunch of guys running around just shooting at a vehicle,” he said. The witness estimated that approximately 15 to 20 shots were fired by a group of four or five armed men.
Following the shooting, Mobile Police found a silver sedan parked outside the Springhill Medical Center emergency room with its hazard lights on, believed to be linked to the incident.
Authorities have released a photograph of a male suspect thought to be one of the shooters and are seeking the public’s help in identifying him. The names of the suspects have not been released, and the investigation is ongoing. The police are encouraging anyone with information to come forward.
George Rothering, a local resident and soon-to-be teacher, was near the crime scene when police arrived. Reflecting on the incident, he emphasized the need for youth mentorship and support. “You don’t have to get trapped in your lifestyle. There’s always a way out; there’s always a silver lining around a dark cloud,” he shared.
The Academy Sports + Outdoors store expressed its commitment to the community, vowing to assist authorities during the investigation. As the search for answers continues, the Mobile community remains anxious, hoping for a quick resolution to bring justice for DeShaun Bonner and his family.