A 21-year-old shot to death in Birmingham Saturday was looking forward to the birth of his first child, a son that would be his namesake.

His grieving family said the baby – due in July – will be all they have left of Tre’Von Nyheim Douglas and they’re thankful that his memory will live on through that baby.

“Tre’Von is not gone,’’ said Douglas’s mother, Sheree Hayes. “We’ve got a little Tre’Von coming.”

The shooting happened just before 4:30 p.m. Saturday in the 1400 block of 33rd Street.

Neighbors reported hearing a loud “bang” and found Douglas on the ground in the backyard of the house. They then called 911, said Sgt. LaQuitta Wade.

Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service pronounced Douglas dead on the scene at 4:46 p.m.

No arrests have yet been announced.

Hayes said Douglas was the youngest of her three sons and she is heartbroken.

“He was my baby,’’ she said. “He wasn’t a trouble child. He didn’t hang out in the streets.”

Douglas grew up in South Carolina. The family moved to Birmingham in 2018.

Douglas lived in Bessemer and worked detailing cars.

“He was out on his own and doing something for himself,’’ Hayes said.

Hayes last saw her son on Thursday but spoke with him on Friday and on Saturday – hours before his slaying.

She was texting with Douglas and his girlfriend, and on Saturday had gotten them – and their unborn baby – new tennis shoes from where she works.

Douglas’s girlfriend called Hayes about 3 p.m. and said she could not reach Douglas. He had left with two other men.

“She said, ‘Mom, Tre’Von isn’t answering,’’’ Hayes said. “She said she had woken up in a sweat and something wasn’t right.”

“I called and he didn’t answer,’’ Hayes said. “His brother called, and he didn’t answer so something wasn’t right.”

Douglas’s girlfriend reached out to the man who had been with Douglas, but he said only that he had dropped him off somewhere and was going back to pick him upl.

Later that afternoon, Hayes received a news alert on her phone that there had been a homicide in Ensley.

The girlfriend called the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office after hearing of a fatal shooting and learned the victim was Douglas.

“She called me screaming and hollering,’’ Hayes said, “and right after that, (the coroner’s office) called and, ‘Sheree, I’ve got some bad news for you. I have your son here at the coroner’s office.’ I said, ‘Tre’Von Douglas? and she said yes ma’am.’’’

Hayes said she feels like her son was killed in a robbery. His cell phone and cash were not with Douglas’s body when he was found.

“They had to rob him,’’ Hayes said. “They left him to where nobody would be able to see him or find him but by people in the community hearing the shot, they called 911.”

Hayes said her was shy, and didn’t like to hang out in large groups of people.

“He was just a laid-back child,’’ she said. “He wasn’t that trouble child.”

“Knowing he didn’t bother nobody, that’s what makes it difficult for me,’’ Hayes said. “The hurt is different.”

Hayes said her son was respectful.

“He was raised right. It was yes ma’am and no ma’am,’’ she said.

Hayes is praying that an arrest is made. She said it would clear her mind to know who, and why.

“I’m trying to be strong as I can because I have heart issues,’’ she said. “I know that’s how he would want me to be.”

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