Arrest Made in Deadly East Birmingham Homicide; Arizona Man Charged with Capital Murder

BIRMINGHAM, AL. (BuzzReport) — A major breakthrough has been made in the investigation of a deadly Fourth of July weekend shooting in East Birmingham, as police have arrested an Arizona man and charged him with capital murder.

The Birmingham Police Department announced that 36-year-old Dontrell Bennett, of Glendale, Arizona, has been charged with Capital Murder in connection with the fatal shooting of 41-year-old Dennis Collins.

The deadly shooting occurred shortly after 2:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 4, 2026, in the 100 block of 69th Place North, where officers responded to reports of gunfire. When first responders arrived, they discovered Collins suffering from fatal gunshot wounds. Despite emergency efforts, he died as a result of his injuries.

Following the homicide, investigators with the Birmingham Police Department launched an extensive investigation to identify and locate the suspect.

Their efforts led authorities to Montgomery, where members of the department’s Violent Crime Apprehension Team (VCAT) worked alongside the Montgomery Police Department’s SWAT Team and Gang Unit to safely apprehend Bennett at a short-term rental property.

Officials said the arrest was carried out without incident.

After being taken into custody, Bennett was transported back to Birmingham and booked into the Jefferson County Jail, where he is being held without bond on the capital murder charge.

Authorities have not released additional details regarding what led to the fatal shooting or whether Bennett and Collins knew each other. Investigators also have not disclosed a possible motive, indicating that the investigation remains active.

Law enforcement officials credited the coordinated efforts between multiple agencies for quickly locating and capturing the suspect before he could evade justice.

Anyone with additional information related to the case is encouraged to contact the Birmingham Police Department. As the investigation continues, authorities say additional details may be released as they become available.