Authorities named 19-year-old Nadia Perkins as the woman found dead at a Julia Drive residence Wednesday morning.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — A 19-year-old Alabama A&M University student was found dead Wednesday morning following a shooting at an apartment complex in North Huntsville, according to local authorities. Officers discovered the victim while responding to reports of gunfire in the residential area.
The Huntsville Police Department identified the deceased as Nadia Perkins, a student at the nearby university. Investigators from the Major Crimes Unit arrived at the scene in the 600 block of Julia Drive shortly after 9 a.m. to find Perkins deceased inside a building. The university confirmed her enrollment shortly after the identification, marking a somber start to the month for the campus community as police work to determine the circumstances surrounding the fatal encounter.
The timeline of the incident began Wednesday, March 4, when patrol officers were dispatched to the West Ridge apartment area following several calls reporting shots fired. Upon arrival, police were directed to a specific building where they located Perkins. “At this time it is under active investigation by our Major Crimes Unit as a death investigation,” Huntsville Police Lieutenant Tony McElyea said during a Wednesday briefing. He noted that the scene was quickly contained by responding units to allow forensic teams to process the area for evidence and ballistics data.
Officials have not yet released details regarding potential suspects or a motive for the shooting. While investigators are looking into all possibilities, they currently describe the event as an isolated incident, suggesting there is no ongoing threat to the broader public or the university campus. The department has asked for the public’s patience as they notify extended family members. Major Crimes detectives remained at the Julia Drive complex for several hours Wednesday, interviewing neighbors and searching for any available surveillance footage from the surrounding residential blocks.
The death adds to a series of recent safety concerns involving students in the Huntsville area. Alabama A&M University officials expressed their condolences to the Perkins family and indicated that grief counseling services would be made available to students and faculty. Records show the university has faced several off-campus incidents involving students in recent years, prompting ongoing discussions between campus security and the Huntsville Police Department regarding the safety of students living in nearby apartment complexes. University President Daniel Wims has previously emphasized the school’s commitment to supporting the well-being of the “Bulldog” community during times of loss.
Procedural steps are now focused on a formal autopsy to be conducted by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences. This examination will provide the official cause and manner of death, which is standard procedure in all homicide and death investigations. Police have not indicated if any weapons were recovered at the scene or if there were signs of forced entry at the residence. Detectives are encouraging anyone with information about the events leading up to Wednesday morning to contact the department’s investigative line or provide anonymous tips through local crime reporting channels.
The atmosphere at the apartment complex remained quiet Thursday as a small memorial began to form near the entrance of the building. Neighbors described hearing a series of loud bangs before seeing a heavy police presence flood the street. One resident, who asked not to be named, said the community is shocked by the loss of such a young neighbor. Police have reiterated their request for privacy for the Perkins family as they navigate the immediate aftermath of the shooting. Officers continue to patrol the area to provide a visible presence for concerned residents following the midweek violence.
The investigation remains active as of Friday afternoon, with detectives still reviewing forensic evidence and witness statements. No arrests have been made, and authorities have not scheduled any further press briefings at this time. The university community plans to monitor the case closely as more details regarding the student’s death are expected to be released by the Major Crimes Unit in the coming days.
Author note: Last updated March 6, 2026.