Tuscaloosa, Alabama — Law enforcement officials have identified two young sisters as the victims of a fatal shooting that occurred late Monday night in a residential neighborhood. The Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit confirmed that the sisters, ages 16 and 20, were killed in the incident, while a 17-year-old male also sustained injuries but is expected to recover.
Authorities responded to reports of gunfire around 11:30 p.m. local time in the Woodlawn Manor area of the city. Upon arrival, officers discovered the two sisters suffering from gunshot wounds, and a male teenager was found injured. The male victim is currently in stable condition.
Kaliyah Houston, 20, has been named as one of the deceased. The identity of her younger sister has not been publicly disclosed. Investigators believe that the suspect, Keshawn Jermichael Woods, 19, had been living with the victims at their home for several months and was involved in an altercation that escalated to violence.
Captain Jack Kennedy, who oversees the Violent Crimes Unit, stated that witnesses reported a heated argument prior to the shooting. During this confrontation, Woods allegedly produced a firearm and opened fire, targeting Houston and her sister before injuring the teenage male. There were also small children, including an infant, present in the residence at the time; however, they were unharmed.
Woods fled the scene but was apprehended hours later by U.S. Marshals after investigators quickly identified him as a suspect. He has been charged with two counts of capital murder and one count of attempted murder, and he is currently being held without bond.
This tragic incident marks another grim chapter in the city’s escalating violence. Already this year, the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit has investigated multiple homicides, with this event marking the 18th and 19th killings they have probed in 2025.
The community is left grappling with the aftermath of the shooting, mourning the loss of the young sisters and the impact on their family and friends. As authorities continue their investigation, the local resident’s concerns about safety and increasing gun violence remain at the forefront.
Supporters of the victims have begun mobilizing, seeking to raise awareness and drive change in addressing the root causes of violence in the community. Local leaders emphasize the importance of finding solutions to these troubling issues as Tuscaloosa mourns yet another tragic loss.