Friends and family are mourning the shooting death of a 25-year-old Birmingham gunned down in an Ensley alley over the weekend.
Malik Tyree Sutton was killed just before 10:30 p.m. Friday.
“Malik was one of the best gifts God could bless me with,’’ said his grieving mother, Taraysha Woods. “He had one of those smiles that would brighten up any room.”
Sutton was found in the 4200 block of Avenue L in Ensley at 10:20 p.m. after Birmingham police responded to a Shot Spotter alert indicating multiple shots fired in the area.
He was pronounced dead on the scene at 10:26 p.m. As of Monday morning, no arrests had been announced.
Sutton graduated from Center Point High School in 2014 where he was a member of the marching band. His mother said he was a part of the 6L Family Foundation, and organization founded by Sutton and a group of his friends that is aimed at providing community support and encouragement through mentoring youth, promoting further education by offering scholarships, actively supporting community causes, and leading exemplary lives
He worked at Auto Zone in Homewood.
“Malik was my firstborn, and I’m truly at a loss for words,’’ Woods said. “His spirited personality could only be defined as the life of the party, and he will not be forgotten by those who truly love and knew him.”
“He will be missed by many, especially his three younger siblings,’’ she said.
The Carlos Chaverst Foundation is offering a $500 reward for information leading to an arrest in Sutton’s slaying. Chaverst said they are also asking the communities to put down the guns for a citywide day of peace on Wednesday, Nov. 3.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Malik Sutton,’’ said Chaverst, who went to school with Sutton. “He was a bright star that lit up rooms and spaces he filled with his personality.’’
The neighborhood where Sutton was killed is heavily populated, and police are asking anyone that heard anything or perhaps captured anything on home surveillance cameras to call police at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.