Authorities have released the name of a 13-year-old boy shot to death when someone fired into his Bessemer home.

The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as Allen T. Thomas.

Allen attended Bessemer City Middle School.

“My baby was the sweetest, most happiest baby there was to have,’’ said his grieving mother, Erica Chaney. “There was never a dull moment while he was around.”

“He never missed a day teling me he loves me,’’ Chaney said. “He would call while I was at work and ask me how was my day going and when I got home, he would ask me if I had a good day.”

“My baby did not deserve this,’’ she said. “He was in his bed asleep.”

“He doesn’t even know what happened to him,’’ Chaney said. “I’m so heartbroken.”

Just before 10 p.m. Friday, officers were dispatched to the 1200 block of 13th Street North on a report that the child had been shot.

Thomas was taken to Children’s of Alabama hospital where he was pronounced dead at 2:58 a.m. Saturday.

Bessemer police Detective Justin Burmeister said the boy was inside the home when a suspect or suspects opened fire.

Investigators have not yet said who was targeted.

Multiple bullet holes were seen in the left side of the house, the result of Friday’s shooting.

Gunfire damage to a large window on the right side of the front door was from a previous shooting, said those gathered at the home Saturday.

No arrests have been announced.

The teen is one of two people killed in Bessemer in the first days of 2025.

“It is with a heavy heart that I extend my deepest condolences to the Chaney-Thomas family as they grieve the devastating loss of their loved one due to gun violence,’’ Mayor Kenneth Gulley said in a weekend statement. “No parent should have to bury their child, and no community should have to endure such senseless acts of violence.”

“We are just four days into the new year, and already our city has experienced two tragic homicides,’’ he said. “This is unacceptable. As your mayor, I want to assure you that we will exhaust every resource and avenue to bring those responsible for this heinous act to justice.”

The mayor appealed to the people of Bessemer, “let us choose peace over violence. We must find ways to resolve our differences without resorting to guns. This lawlessness cannot and will not define who we are as a city.”

Anyone with information in the teen’s slaying is asked to call detectives at 205-425-2411, the tip line at 205-428-3541 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.