Father of 5 killed in Birmingham shooting remembered as loving dad, hard worker

Father of 5 killed in Birmingham shooting remembered as loving dad, hard worker

A Birmingham man killed in a shooting Friday night is being remembered as a loving father and hard worker.

RahKeem Darnell Vanderbilt, 32, was one of two men killed in separate incidents.

Vanderbilt and two other men were shot just before 7 p.m. when someone opened fire on them as they were hanging out together on Fourth Avenue S.W., just off Goldwire Street.

South Precinct officers were dispatched to the area on a report of a person shot. They found blood and multiple shell casings at the scene, said Officer Truman Fitzgerald.

The three victims had already been taken by private vehicle to UAB Hospital, where Vanderbilt was pronounced dead.

A second victim sustained life-threatening injuries and the third victim’s injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. Their names have not been released.

Fitzgerald said it wasn’t immediately clear whether the shooter was on foot or a vehicle.

Shot Spotter registered several incidents of gunfire at the location, including one burst of 29 rounds fired.

No arrests have been announced.

South Precinct officers were dispatched just before 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4, 2023, to the 400 block of Goldwire Street on a report of a person shot. Once police arrived, they found multiple shell casings and blood on Fourth Avenue S.W., just off Goldwire. (Carol Robinson)

Vanderbilt leaves behind five young children.

Those close to him said he had a good relationship with all of his children and described him as family oriented.

Vanderbilt worked for the City of Birmingham. He also had a car-washing business and was a barber.

A GoFundMe has been started to help his family with his funeral. Donations can be made here.

“We are all devastated by RahKeem’s loss,’’ his sister, TyShay Murphy wrote on the donations site. “RahKeem was a loving and supporting brother, cousin, nephew, father, and uncle who could make anyone smile.”

Anyone with information on the slaying is asked to call Birmingham homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.