PLEASANT GROVE, AL — A quiet Monday morning turned tragic when 21-year-old Montease Yvonne Booker of Birmingham was gunned down in what authorities are investigating as a homicide. The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office confirmed Booker’s death after emergency responders found her suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in the 1300 block of 7th Place around 5:21 a.m.
Pleasant Grove Police Department officers arrived to a chaotic scene, where neighbors reported hearing a rapid succession of gunshots just before dawn. Despite immediate medical attention, Booker was pronounced dead within minutes. Crime scene technicians spent hours collecting shell casings and documenting evidence as detectives canvassed the residential area for potential witnesses.
The fatal shooting has left this tight-knit community reeling, with friends remembering Booker as a vibrant young woman who recently started a new job at a local daycare center. “She had this light about her that could brighten any room,” said childhood friend Deja Reynolds, fighting back tears at a growing memorial of candles and stuffed animals near the crime scene.
Authorities have not released information about potential suspects or motives, though investigators are exploring whether Booker knew her attacker. The lack of immediate arrests has heightened concerns among residents, with some calling for increased police patrols in the neighborhood.
As the investigation continues, Pleasant Grove police urge anyone with information—no matter how insignificant it may seem—to come forward. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama at 205-254-7777. Meanwhile, Booker’s family is preparing to lay their loved one to rest while demanding justice for what they describe as a senseless act of violence.
