Kendall Jarrod Thornton Jr. was just three minutes from his father’s east Jefferson County home when the unthinkable happened.

Thornton Jr., 21, had just left a friend’s home in Inglenook and was headed back to Winewood.

Eight minutes into the trip, someone fired on Kendall’s vehicle on Highway 79 and Cleage Drive.

It was shortly before 10 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022. Kendall was pronounced dead on the scene.

Kendall wasn’t the only victim, his grieving mother says.

“When they murdered him, they murdered our whole family,’’ said Angel Miranda.

Miranda and Kendall’s father, Kendall Thornton Sr., sat down with AL.com and Crime Stoppers to talk about their loss in hopes that they can find out who killed their son, and why.

“For this to happen so violently, so unexpectedly is such a big blow,” she said.

A truck driver saw Kendall’s vehicle crash and called 911.

The truck driver reported there was a vehicle in front of, and behind, Kendall’s vehicle.

Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the scene on a report of a traffic accident with the driver tapped inside.

When deputies arrived, Kendall’s vehicle was overturned off the roadway. Deputies discovered it was riddled with bullet holes.

“The investigation quickly turned to a possible homicide investigation,’’ said sheriff’s Lt. Joni Money.

“The thought of his last moments kills me,’’ his mother said.

Now, three months later, investigators still have not been able to make an arrest.

They have followed up on some solid leads but need more information to be able to crack the case.

“We don’t know what it could be,’’ Thornton Sr. said. “We never had a problem with him. He didn’t have any enemies, or I thought he didn’t.”

“He didn’t even really hang around anybody,’’ he said. “He was always home.”

“My son did not have problems with people. I don’t know of a fight that he’s ever been in,’’ his mother said. “For him to be taken like that, I don’t understand.”

Kendall was the second youngest of the Thornton brothers. He and his younger brother – Kendall Thornton III – were separated by just one year and were inseparable.

He played football for the Pinson High School Indians. His team won state championships both his junior and senior years.

“It was a proud moment,’’ his mother said.

Kendall also played basketball and ran track.

“Anything he did, he excelled,’’ Miranda said. “He was like the full package.”

Kendall worked at FedEx and wanted someday to go into business flipping houses. His father is an electrician, and that was something they wanted to do together.

“It was something he really wanted to do,’’ his mother said.

Kendall’s parents have tried to come up with a motive.

Was it a case of mistaken identity? Was it a gang initiation? Was someone jealous of Kendall?

“He always had nice things,’’ his father said. “It could have been jealousy.”

“He was a good kid, so we took good care of him and I’m sure people were envious of that,’’ she said. “Because he was a good kid, I had no problem giving him what he needed or wanted.”

Kendall’s death has devastated his family.

“We had no Thanksgiving, no Christmas, no birthdays because he’s not here,’’ said Miranda, a nurse who just recently has been able to return to work.

Kendall’s younger brother has been particularly hard hit.

“They were like twins,’’ Thornton Sr. said. “He doesn’t have a memory without him.”

“He doesn’t go anywhere now. He’s paranoid,’’ Miranda said of their youngest son. “They had been on the phone. That was the last person he talked to and now he’s been robbed of his life too.”

“We got the life sentence,’’ Miranda said, “and it’s not fair.”

Someone knows who killed Kendall, and the family is pleading that anyone who has information come forward.

“Every day someone is getting murdered, and you would want someone to help you get justice for your loved one,’’ Miranda said. “It doesn’t cost you anything to do the right thing. My son deserves that much.”

Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office at 205-325-1450, Option 2. Tipsters who want to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.