In the quiet of an east Birmingham morning, a tragedy unfolded that would shake a community to its core. On Tuesday, August 19, 2025, the vibrant life of 6-year-old Alex Reese was cut short in an accidental shooting at the Madison Park apartments, a place where children’s laughter should echo, not the sound of a fatal gunshot. The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office confirmed the young boy’s identity, leaving a city grappling with grief and a renewed call for change.
The incident occurred shortly before 11:30 a.m. in the 700 block of 24th Avenue Northwest, a residential corner of Birmingham’s Sun Valley neighborhood. Birmingham Police Department’s East Precinct officers rushed to the scene after a distressing report of a person shot. What they found was unimaginable: young Alex, unresponsive in a bedroom, a gunshot wound to his head stealing his future. Birmingham Fire and Rescue arrived swiftly but could only confirm the heartbreaking truth—Alex was gone, pronounced dead at the scene.
According to Officer De’Rell Freeman, the preliminary investigation revealed a devastating sequence of events. Alex, in the company of two adults inside the apartment, wandered into a room where an unsecured firearm lay within reach. In a fleeting moment, the curious hands of a child turned a dangerous oversight into an irreversible loss. The gun discharged, and Alex became the victim of a preventable tragedy. The two adults present were taken to Birmingham Police Department headquarters for questioning, as authorities pieced together the moments leading to the accident.
The scene outside the Madison Park apartments was heavy with sorrow. A man, identified as Alex’s grandfather, stood among the gathering crowd, his voice breaking as he cried out, “That was my only grandson.” His words, raw with pain, captured the personal toll of a loss that rippled far beyond the apartment walls. For Birmingham, a city already burdened by a rising tide of gun violence, Alex’s death was a gut-wrenching reminder of the stakes at hand.
Police Chief Michael Pickett addressed the tragedy with a heavy heart, emphasizing the emotional weight carried by the officers who responded. “It’s very difficult to see a child lose their life,” he said, announcing that counseling would be provided to support the first responders who witnessed the harrowing scene. Pickett’s words underscored the toll such incidents take on those tasked with protecting the community, a duty made all the more painful when a child is involved.
The Birmingham Police Department wasted no time in turning this tragedy into a rallying cry for prevention. Officer Freeman’s message was clear and urgent: “This is a situation where we harp on gun safety and adults securing firearms so that situations like this don’t happen.” The call for responsible gun ownership echoed across the city, a plea to prevent other families from enduring such unimaginable grief. Authorities urged residents to lock away firearms, emphasizing that a simple precaution could mean the difference between life and death.
Birmingham’s struggle with gun violence has been a persistent wound. In 2024, the city recorded 160 homicides, a grim milestone that surpassed the previous record set in 1933. Alex’s death, occurring just months into 2025, added to a tally that includes 50 homicides reported in Birmingham by mid-August. The city’s leaders, including Mayor Randall Woodfin, have been vocal about the need for community action to curb this epidemic. Initiatives like “Project Safe Streets” and increased rewards for tips through Crime Stoppers reflect a determined effort to stem the tide of violence, yet tragedies like Alex’s show how much work remains.
As the investigation continues, the Birmingham Police Department is calling on the public for any information that could shed light on the circumstances of Alex’s death. They encourage anyone with details to contact the BPD Homicide Unit at 205-254-1764 or to provide anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777, where a cash reward may be available. But beyond the investigation, the focus remains on prevention, on ensuring that no other family endures the pain of losing a child to an unsecured firearm.
Alex Reese’s life, though brief, left an indelible mark on those who knew him. His loss is a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the responsibility we all share to protect the most vulnerable among us. In the wake of this tragedy, Birmingham stands united in mourning, but also in resolve—to honor Alex’s memory by building a safer future for every child in the city.