By Kayla Davis, Taylor Lang
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BROOKWOOD, Ala. (WVTM) — Two people and a dog were found fatally shot inside a Brookwood home Monday, and a 24-year-old man was arrested hours later on a capital murder warrant after authorities found him hiding in an attic crawl space, investigators said.
Finding the victims
Brookwood police were called about 1 p.m. Monday to conduct a welfare check at a home in the 12900 block of Alabama Junction Road after the homeowner, who was out of the country, became concerned about a friend who had been house-sitting.
According to investigators, the homeowner had been unable to reach the house-sitter since the weekend. After accessing doorbell camera footage, the homeowner saw a man behaving suspiciously on the back porch during the late-night and early morning hours of Sunday and contacted the landlord, who requested the welfare check.
Officers entered the home and found Jose Felix Alvarez-Duenas, 31, dead near the front entrance. After clearing the residence, they discovered Jazmine Alexis Bates, 22, dead inside a bedroom closet. Bates was a student at the University of Alabama.
Investigators said both victims had been shot. The homeowner’s dog also was found dead from a gunshot wound.
Officials said Bates had just been visiting Alvarez-Duenas while he was house-sitting and there was nothing malicious about her presence.
The Tuscaloosa County Violent Crimes Unit took over the investigation, assisted by the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene and Cyber units.
Video evidence Authorities identified the suspect as De’Kendrick Crawford, 24, using doorbell camera footage and other evidence collected during the investigation.
Based on video evidence and physical evidence recovered at the scene, investigators obtained a capital murder warrant charging Crawford with the deaths of two or more people.
Suspect and victims knew each other Investigators said both victims knew the homeowner and the suspect through previous employment at a local business. They did not identify the business because they said it did not have a connection to the case.
Investigators noted Crawford and Alvarez-Duenas were no longer friends after a falling out, but said they have uncovered nothing that would explain the killings.
Hiding in an attic Once Crawford was identified in the homicide investigation, authorities launched a countywide operation involving dozens of officers, multiple search teams, cyber investigators and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Investigators executed search warrants for electronic data and simultaneously checked numerous locations before locating Crawford at an extended family member’s apartment in Northport.
Crawford barricaded himself inside the apartment, leading to a roughly four-hour tactical operation involving the Northport Police tactical team, U.S. Marshals tactical officers, drones, canines, fire personnel, tear gas and breaching operations.
Investigators eventually discovered Crawford hiding inside interconnected attic crawl spaces above adjoining apartments. Authorities said he never voluntarily surrendered and was only taken into custody after officers physically located him in the attic. No officers or civilians were injured during the arrest.
He was booked into the Tuscaloosa County Jail on the outstanding warrants, and investigators said additional charges are expected as the investigation continues.
Already wanted During the investigation, detectives discovered Crawford was already wanted on outstanding felony warrants stemming from a June incident near the University of Alabama.
Officials said Crawford had been fired from a contractor’s job on campus and allegedly fired several shots from a moving vehicle as he left, striking an occupied building near Coleman Coliseum.
Authorities emphasized Crawford was not a University employee.
Law enforcement had already searched numerous addresses and tracked multiple phones while attempting to arrest him before the Brookwood killings, describing him as actively evading law enforcement for weeks.
Capital murder charges Authorities obtained a capital murder warrant based on the allegation that Crawford killed more than one person during a single course of conduct.
Investigators said additional charges are expected, including possible additional capital murder counts, animal cruelty for killing the dog and charges related to stealing one victim’s vehicle to run from the scene.
Looking for a motive Authorities stressed they have found no evidence that the victims, the homeowner, Crawford’s family or either of his former employers bear any responsibility for the shootings.
They described the attack as unexpected, saying Crawford had little criminal history before the campus shooting and that his escalation into a double homicide surprised even those who knew him. Investigators continue to examine his electronic devices and communications in hopes of determining a motive, but said Crawford has invoked his right not to speak with detectives.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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