At a Glance
- Brandon Campbell, 18, was killed and Sam Slaughter, 17, was injured in a Jan. 10 shooting on Birmingham’s Tuscaloosa Avenue
- Five suspects-Algie Eugene Surrell Jr., 27, Kavari Wells, 19, Ricco Wells, 22, and two 17-year-olds-are in custody at Jefferson County Jail with no bond
- Campbell drove away after the shooters opened fire, crashed into a tree, and died at the scene; Slaughter survived multiple gunshot wounds
- Why it matters: The Pleasant Grove High School community is reeling as Campbell’s classmates prepare to graduate without him
A single bullet ended Brandon Campbell’s senior year and shattered the bond between two best friends. Campbell, 18, and Sam Slaughter, 17, were sitting in their car on Saturday, Jan. 10, when gunfire erupted on Birmingham’s Tuscaloosa Avenue. Campbell managed to drive away but crashed into a tree while trying to reach a relative for help. He was pronounced dead at the scene; Slaughter was rushed to surgery and is now recovering.
The Shooting
Police say the teens were targeted in what local outlets report was an attempted robbery set-up. After the shooters opened fire, Campbell steered the wounded car down the avenue before losing control. Officers found the teens at the tree line; Campbell had already succumbed to his injuries, while Slaughter survived multiple wounds.
The Arrests
Six days later, on Jan. 16, Birmingham police announced five arrests:
| Name | Age | Charges |
|---|---|---|
| Ricco Wells | 22 | Capital murder, attempted murder |
| Algie Eugene Surrell Jr. | 27 | Capital murder |
| Kavari Wells | 19 | Capital murder |
| Teen #1 | 17 | Capital murder, attempted murder |
| Teen #2 | 17 | Felony murder |
All five are held without bond at Jefferson County Jail.
A Community Honors Brandon Campbell
Pleasant Grove High School held a balloon-release vigil on Jan. 16. Campbell’s sister, friends, teachers and Slaughter’s parents spoke to a crowd captured on video by Jefferson County Schools. Slaughter joined by FaceTime from his hospital bed, talking with friends for the first time since surgery.
“Knowing that Brandon was full of life, laughter and joy, may we all find comfort in knowing that’s how he lived his life,” one speaker told mourners.
‘Two Peas in a Pod’
Slaughter’s father described the boys as inseparable. “If you saw one, you saw the other,” he told News Of Losangeles. “Brandon was an amazing, bright kid. He had a bright future-quiet, well-mannered, always smiling, always good energy.”
The elder Slaughter stressed that neither teen was gang-affiliated. “He’s very good in school. All the teachers love him,” he said of his own son, adding that the family wants the public to know “he’s not some gang-affiliated person.”
A Father’s Plea
Speaking to News Of Losangeles, Slaughter’s dad said he never thought gun violence would hit so close. “Even though this is my son and his friend, who was also my son, I am fearful for the public,” he said. “This is a child that belonged to the world.”
He vowed to push for awareness “of the dangers not only our kids are facing today, but what the public in general is facing right now.”
