Authorities in Bessemer, Alabama, have identified the victim of a January 31, 2026, shooting as 16‑year‑old Korderrian De’Vante Sims Jr., a Wenonah High School student. The incident occurred around midnight in the 700 block of 28th Terrace South, and Sims was pronounced dead at 4:46 a.m. despite emergency efforts. The case is being investigated as a homicide.
Police say officers responded to reports of gunfire just after midnight on Saturday, January 31, in the 700 block of 28th Terrace South. When they arrived, they found Sims suffering from gunshot wounds outside a residence in the area. Emergency crews attempted to stabilize him, but his injuries were severe. He was later pronounced dead at the scene by the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office at 4:46 a.m.
Investigators have not released details about suspects or motives, and no arrests have been made as of early February. Detectives are treating the case as a homicide and have urged anyone with information to contact Bessemer police at 205‑425‑2411 or Crime Stoppers at 205‑254‑7777. The lack of immediate leads has heightened community concern, as residents in the area grapple with the sudden loss of a teenager.
Sims was a student at Wenonah High School in Birmingham, where administrators quickly announced that grief counseling and support services would be made available to classmates and staff. Birmingham City Schools emphasized their commitment to helping students process the tragedy, noting that the loss of a young life impacts not only the school but the broader community.
Friends and family described Sims as a bright and energetic young man whose life was cut short far too soon. His death has sparked conversations about youth violence in Jefferson County, where several shootings have occurred in recent months. Community leaders have called for renewed efforts to address gun violence and provide safe environments for young people.
The 700 block of 28th Terrace South, where the shooting occurred, is a residential area in Bessemer that has seen sporadic incidents of violence in the past. Police continue to canvass the neighborhood for witnesses and surveillance footage that might shed light on the circumstances of the shooting. For now, the case remains open, and the community awaits answers while mourning the loss of a teenager whose future was tragically cut short.