13-year-old among 2 teens killed in targeted Jefferson County shooting; 3rd escaped unharmed

13-year-old among 2 teens killed in targeted Jefferson County shooting; 3rd escaped unharmed

A 13-year-old boy is among two teen victims shot to death in what investigators say was a targeted attack in Jefferson County.

The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office on Tuesday identified the victims as Johnathan Keith Cottingham, 13, of Forestdale, and Louis Craig IV, 19, of Birmingham.

Just before 8 p.m. Monday, deputies responded to a call of shots fire in the 200 block of Chickasaw Drive near Forestdale.

When they arrived, they found a vehicle had crashed into several other parked vehicles in the parking lot of an apartment complex, said Lt. Joni Money.

The victims were found unresponsive inside the vehicle. Both were pronounced dead on the scene at 8:19 p.m.

Money said a third teen was inside the car at the time of the shooting. He was able to escape unharmed and ran to a nearby residence for help.

No arrests have been made.

The teens are the 176th and 177th homicide victims this year in all of Jefferson County.

Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 205-325-1450 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.