Incident in Brookwood, Alabama: Double Homicide and Suspect Charges

The man charged with the murder of a University of Alabama student, a father of three, and a dog, was familiar with the victims, according to police reports. Dekendrick Crawford, 24, now faces capital murder charges following the discovery of Jazmine Alexis Bates, 22, and her friend Jose Felix Alvarez-Duenas, 31, in their home in Brookwood on Monday.

Bates and Alvarez-Duenas, who were both employed at a Tuscaloosa restaurant, were located after the homeowner, who was abroad, checked the security footage early in the morning and noticed someone suspicious on the back porch.

“We managed to identify the suspect shown on the doorbell camera,” stated Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Chief Jack Kennedy. The investigation revealed that Crawford had worked alongside the victims at a local business and knew them personally.

Alvarez-Duenas was a single father of three, and he and Bates had recently worked shifts together at Buffalo Phil’s in Tuscaloosa. Just months away from graduation at the University of Alabama, her loss has left many in shock.

According to Kennedy, crucial security footage significantly aided in their quick identification of the suspect. The bodies were found shortly after the homeowner requested a welfare check due to concerns for Alvarez-Duenas’ well-being.

“Upon entering, we found a deceased male on the floor, later identified as the house sitter,” Kennedy shared. “After securing the residence, we discovered the female victim hidden in a closet in the back of the bedroom.”

Crawford was not present when authorities arrived but was later apprehended at a relative’s apartment in Northport, approximately 35 miles away. His arrest followed a standoff that extended for around ten hours.

“Even after a prolonged tactical operation involving drones, tear gas, and extensive searches, he remained non-compliant. It seemed he prioritized his own safety over that of his victims,” Kennedy commented.

The reason for the attack remains unclear. Kennedy expressed confusion about why Crawford targeted the victims, stating that they had done nothing wrong to him or anyone he knew.

At the time of the incident, Crawford was wanted for firearms-related offenses from May, linked to an incident where he allegedly fired shots into a building on the University of Alabama campus.

“He wasn’t an employee of the University. He had been terminated from a contract job related to construction,” Kennedy explained. “Before leaving that job, he fired shots out of his car window, some hitting a building near Coleman Coliseum.”

Crawford made a court appearance on Wednesday for the murder and firearms charges, where he was denied bail. Authorities suggest he may face additional charges, including animal cruelty.