Late Monday evening, the quiet calm of the 100 block of Courtland Drive near Edgemont Heights in Montgomery was shattered by gunfire. At approximately 6:20 p.m., responders arrived to find 25-year-old Zekhiry Hooks of Montgomery lying wounded from a gunshot. He was pronounced dead at the scene, leaving the neighborhood reeling and law enforcement scrambling for answers.
According to the spokesperson for the Montgomery Police Department (MPD), Lt. Tina McGriff, the circumstances leading up to the shooting remain under investigation. No arrests have been made yet, no suspects identified publicly, and no clear motive has emerged. The silence surrounding the incident only adds to the anguish of the community.
Hooks, described in the press simply as a 25-year-old man from the city, becomes the 56th homicide victim for the year in Montgomery. That grim milestone underscores a broader pattern of violence that city leaders say they are working to counter—but which many residents say they continue to feel helpless against.
Neighbors say the area around Courtland Drive and Fairview Avenue is usually quiet at this hour. Monday’s tragedy shattered the routine for people who walk their dogs, pick up kids, or simply head home after work. One nearby resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, held back tears saying, “We’re just trying to live our lives, and then in a blink this happens.”
In the aftermath, MPs and Crime Stoppers are urging anyone with any information—no matter how small—to come forward. Tips can be given anonymously by calling MPD at 334-625-2831, or Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP. Authorities say even the smallest lead could help unlock what happened in those minutes before the gunfight.
City officials and law-enforcement sources say they are still canvassing the scene, checking surveillance cameras, interviewing potential witnesses and following up scrap leads. Because there are no confirmed suspects or motives yet, the investigation remains very much active, and the public is expected to remain vigilant.
For the family and friends of Zekhiry Hooks, the focus now is on grief, memory and waiting for answers. A young life ended far too soon, a neighborhood asking why, and a city reminded once again how fragile peace can be.
