Targeted shooting leaves two teens dead, third teen escapes unharmed, sheriff says

Published 9:15 am Tuesday, December 12, 2023

A Monday night, reportedly targeted shooting left two teenage boys dead in Alabama, investigators said.

The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office identified the two teen victims as Johnathan Keith Cottingham, 13, of Forestdale, Alabama, and Louis Craig IV, 19, of Birmingham.

Sheriff’s deputies were called to the 200 block of Chickasaw Drive near Forestdale at approximately 8 p.m. Monday on a report of shots fired in the area.

Deputies found a crashed vehicle and the two victims inside.

The coroner’s office reported Tuesday that both teens were pronounced dead at the scene.

A third teen was also reportedly inside the vehicle at the time of the shooting, but escaped unharmed, investigators said.

Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office deputies are investigating the murders and said the attack appeared targeted at the teens.