Sonny Dewayne Arrington and Carlton Rufus Allen Killed in Late-Night Ensley Shooting — Woman Held in Custody

In a tragic turn late Saturday night, two men — 43-year-old Sonny Dewayne Arrington of Clarksville and 76-year-old Carlton Rufus Allen of Birmingham — were fatally shot at an apartment complex in the 1400 block of 20th Place, in the Ensley neighborhood of Birmingham. The shooting, which also left a woman seriously wounded, has shocked the community and drawn swift law-enforcement action.

At around 11:25 p.m., local police responded to reports of gunfire and arrived to discover multiple victims in the Tuxedo Terrace apartment complex. Arrington and Allen were pronounced dead at the scene; the unidentified woman was rushed to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, and is expected to recover.

Within hours, law-enforcement officers had arrested a suspect. She was later named as 35-year-old Jasmine Allen, believed to be a family member of those involved. According to police, the shooting appears to be connected to a domestic-related dispute. Investigators say she fired into the apartment during an argument and then fled. She has been charged with two counts of capital murder and one count of attempted murder — and will be held without bond at the Jefferson County Jail.

Early information from police suggests this was not a random act of violence, but rather a deeply personal conflict that escalated tragically. Neighbors say the area was quiet until the chaos erupted — the flash of lights and arrival of emergency vehicles shocked nearby residents. Many describe the crime as a painful reminder of how family arguments can spiral out of control.

Though full details of what triggered the dispute remain unclear — including what led to gunfire being directed into the apartment — investigators are now interviewing witnesses and reviewing evidence. Detectives are particularly focused on reconstructing the timeline: when the argument turned violent, who was in the apartment, and whether others may have also been involved.

For the community, the sense of loss is heavy. The deaths of Arrington and Allen have sparked sadness across generations: one a middle-aged man from Clarksville, the other a senior man with decades of life behind him in Birmingham. The violent ending to what began as a family conflict has stirred calls for more awareness and intervention in domestic disputes, especially when multiple generations live under one roof.

As the investigation continues, local authorities urge families to seek help before tempers escalate — emphasizing that peaceful resolution, mediation, or outside intervention can sometimes prevent such horrors. For now, residents await closure, answer to how and why this happened, and hope for comfort for the families left behind.