Brandon Jamal Nation

Arrest Made in Shooting Death of 5-Year-Old Boy Getting Hair Cut; Others Sought

An arrest has been made in the shooting death of a 5-year-old Alabama boy while he was getting a hair cut over the weekend, and police say they are looking for other suspects who were with the man they’ve arrested.

Kendrick Rondell O’Neal, 26, has been charged with capital murder in the death of Brandon Jamal Nation III.

Nation was shot in the head just after 10 a.m. on Sunday, as CrimeOnline reported. The 25-year-old man cutting his hair — who was the intended target — was critically wounded.

Bessemer Police said O’Neal and the others intended to kill the man when they pulled up in front of the house and opened fire with automatic weapons. Three people opened fire, shooting into the enclosed front porch of the house, AL.com reported.

Police said dozens of rounds were fired. Several other people were inside the house, they said, but were not struck.

Bessemer Police Det. Justin Burmeister said investigators know who their other suspects are and are after them.

O’Neal is being held without bond. He was arrested on multiple charges in 2018 but pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property and leaving the scene of an accident and was given a suspended sentence.

Police questioned a second person in the case, but that person was released without charges.

Anyone with information is asked to call Bessemer police at 205-481-4366, the department’s tip line at 205-428-3541 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.

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[Featured image: Brandon Jamal Nation III/handout]