A man dog-sitting at a home in Brookwood, Alabama was shot and killed alongside his friend and the pet he was caring for in a brutal triple murder that left investigators searching for answers about why the suspect targeted the victims.

Bodies Discovered After Security Camera Alert

Police discovered the bodies of Jose Felix Alvarez-Duenas, 31, and Jazmine Alexis Bates, 22, on July 6 after the homeowner requested a welfare check. The homeowner had traveled out of town while Alvarez-Duenas stayed at her residence to care for her dog. When she could not reach him, she reviewed her security camera footage and spotted a suspicious person on her back porch during the early morning hours. She contacted her landlord, who then called police to perform the welfare check.

Officers found Alvarez-Duenas dead immediately upon opening the front door. Bates, a University of Alabama student, was discovered shot to death inside a bedroom closet. The dog had also been shot and killed. Doorbell camera video provided investigators with critical evidence to identify the suspect within hours of discovering the crime scene.

Suspect Found Hiding In Attic After Standoff

Authorities identified De’Kendrick Crawford, 24, as the suspect and issued a capital murder warrant based on security footage and physical evidence collected at the scene. Officers located Crawford at a relative’s apartment roughly 10 hours after finding the victims. When Crawford refused to exit the building, law enforcement breached the structure and found him hiding in the attic. He was taken into custody without further incident, though additional charges are expected as the investigation progresses.

Captain Jack Kennedy of the Violent Crimes Unit stated at a press conference that investigators found no known motive for the killings. The victims had no connection to Crawford and had done nothing to provoke the attack. None of Crawford’s acquaintances could explain why he targeted the pair.

Outstanding Warrant Linked To Campus Shooting

Crawford had an active felony warrant from May 2026 for shooting into an occupied building on the University of Alabama campus. After being terminated from a contract job, Crawford allegedly fired multiple rounds from his vehicle as he drove away, striking an occupied office building. Police had been actively searching for Crawford since that incident. The University of Alabama released a statement offering counseling resources to students and staff following Bates’ death and extending condolences to her family and friends.