A University of Alabama student and her friend were found shot to death inside a Brookwood home where the friend was pet-sitting, along with the homeowner’s dog. Police arrested a suspect within hours using doorbell camera footage, discovering he was already wanted for firing into a campus building after being fired from his job.

Bodies Discovered During Welfare Check

Brookwood police discovered the victims on July 6 after the homeowner requested a welfare check. The woman had traveled out of town and left Jose Felix Alvarez-Duenas, 31, to watch her home and dog. When she could not reach him, she reviewed her security cameras and spotted suspicious activity on her back porch in the early morning hours. She contacted her landlord, who then called police to investigate the property.

Officers found Alvarez-Duenas’s body immediately upon opening the front door. They discovered Jazmine Alexis Bates, 22, a University of Alabama student, shot to death inside a bedroom closet. The homeowner’s dog had also been shot and killed. Investigators determined both victims died from gunshot wounds, though authorities have not disclosed how the suspect gained entry to the residence.

Suspect Captured Hiding in Attic

Police identified De’Kendrick Crawford, 24, as the suspect using doorbell camera video and physical evidence collected at the scene. Authorities issued a capital murder warrant and located Crawford at a relative’s apartment within hours of discovering the bodies. Crawford refused to exit the building, forcing law enforcement to breach the premises. Officers found him hiding in the attic and took him into custody approximately 10 hours after the victims were found.

Captain Jack Kennedy of the Violent Crimes Unit stated investigators have found no motive for the killings. “This individual here is responsible for what he did. No one did anything incorrect to cause this,” Kennedy said during a press conference. “We don’t know why he targeted them. They were not doing anything wrong. They had done nothing wrong to him.”

Prior Warrant and Campus Shooting

Crawford had an outstanding felony warrant from May 2026 for shooting into an occupied building. According to police, Crawford was fired from a contract position on the University of Alabama campus. As he drove away from the termination, Crawford fired multiple shots from a weapon, with bullets striking an occupied office building. Law enforcement had actively searched for Crawford on that warrant before the double homicide occurred. Officials stated additional charges will be filed as the investigation continues. The University of Alabama released a statement offering counseling and support resources to students and staff affected by Bates’s death.