2 charged in Halloween hit-and-run that critically injured 4-year-old Birmingham boy

2 charged in Halloween hit-and-run that critically injured 4-year-old Birmingham boy

Two people have been arrested in the Halloween night hit-and-run that critically injured a young trick-or-treater in Birmingham.

Justin Clay Carter, 37, is charged with three felony warrants for leaving the scene of an accident. He was booked into the Jefferson County Jail at 3:34 p.m. Wednesday and remains held on bonds totaling $45,000.

Anna Rogers, 35, is charged hindering prosecution. She, too, was taken into custody Wednesday. She was booked in the Birmingham City Jail and has been released on bond.

The crash happened just before 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31, near the intersection of 9th Avenue South and 56th Street South at about 7:54 p.m.

Steven “King” Allen Jr., 4, remains on a ventilator at Children’s of Alabama. He was initially taken off but had to go back on the ventilator on Sunday.

King’s mother, Anita Allen, said she’s “ecstatic” there have been arrests, but said she thought the charges could have been more serious.

“I have mixed emotions,’’ she said.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family with the ongoing medical expenses. Donations can be made here.

King had been to a Halloween event at his family’s nearby church and was on last stop of his trick-or-treating route Tuesday night when tragedy struck.

The 4-year-old boy, dressed as the Black Panther, was on 56th Street South in Birmingham’s Crestwood neighborhood, when authorities and family said he and two others – including an infant – were struck at a high rate of speed by a vehicle whose driver did not stop.

King was with his oldest sister and her best friend, both in their 20s, and the friend’s children, including her 9-month-old son. King just turned four last week.

Steven Allen “King” Jr., 4, was critically injured in a hit-and-run crash on Oct. 31, 2023, while he was trick-or-treating in Birmingham’s Crestwood neighborhood.(Contributed)

“That car just came up the road speeding, hit him, didn’t even break stride and kept going,’’ said Steven Allen Sr., a City of Birmingham employee.

“That’s the area we’ve been going to for years because they always have big decorations,’’ Allen said. “That was their last stop before they came home.”

“Everything just happened so fast,’’ said King’s sister, 23-year-old Kadeidra Gouch, who was with him. “I’m just overwhelmed at the moment.”

The neighborhood is popular with trick-or-treaters, partly because of the elaborate yard decorations.

“They told me it took the paramedics almost 10 minutes to get up the street, that’s how many kids there were,’’ Allen said.

The Allens received a telephone call as soon as King and the others were struck. Allen said he rushed to the scene, but King had already been transported by Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service to the emergency room.

King suffered damage to his liver and kidney, a possible spinal injury, and he’s bleeding from his lungs.

Steven Allen Jr. Halloween Hit-and-Run

Steven Allen Jr., a 4-year-old affectionately known as King, was critically injured in a hit-and-run while trick-or-treating in Birmingham’s Crestwood neighborhood on Oct. 31, 2023.(Contributed)

The 25-year-old woman and her infant son sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

Gouch, King’s sister, was not injured.

Birmingham police announced earlier this week that suspect’s vehicle is a dark colored Audi A3, built between 2009 and 2012, with a damaged rear view passenger mirror.

A car matching that description was towed by police the following night from a nearby residence on Fifth Court North. That helped lead police to Carter and Rogers.

Anyone with additional information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777. A cash reward of up to $5,000 is being offered in the case.