Four 20-year-olds charged in burglary, shooting at Hoover apartments

Four individuals have been charged in a burglary and shooting which occurred Tuesday, Aug. 23 around 3:56 p.m., according to Hoover police.

Caleb Tyrell Tarver-Clifton, 20; William Alexander Smith, 23; Marques Edward Tetter, 23, and Kendal Ramel Cox, 26, were formally charged Wednesday afternoon, according to a release from HPD. Tarver-Clifton, Smith and Tetter were charged with first degree burglary and their bond was set at $20,000 each, and Cox was charged with possession of a short barreled shotgun and first degree marijuana possession. His bond was set at $7,500.

All four men charged are Hoover residents.

Police responded to the 1800 block of Hampton Park Drive in The Park at Galleria apartments following a report of shots being fired, according to a release. Officers reportedly had information that a male had been shot but were initially unable to find a victim at the apartments. This is not the first time the 1800 building has been an issue in this complex, according to police.

“The 1800 building at the Park at Galleria has been a problem area in the past and now we’ll step up our efforts to ensure this complex is safe,” said Capt. Gregg Rector. “We won’t tolerate this group ruining the quality of living for their neighbors. We’re very familiar with all of these suspects and we’ve arrested most of them multiple times already.”

Police were notified that a 23-year-old gunshot victim, later identified as Tetter, was being treated at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Birmingham. He was injured in the arm and torso by “what appeared to be a shotgun blast,” according to the release and was transferred to UAB Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

According to the release, Tetter was later identified as one of four people who were breaking into an apartment at The Park at Galleria. Two of the other burglary suspects were taken into custody at St. Vincent’s and transported to Hoover City Jail, according to the report, and one suspect remains at large and has not been charged.

Police reportedly found Cox, who is believed to be the shooter, hiding in an apartment in the 1800 building. He was in possession of marijuana and an illegal and stolen sawed-off shotgun, according to police. He was arrested and transported to Hoover City Jail.

“The burglary suspects in this case were clearly targeting one of the individuals inside the apartment,” Rector said. “They were armed with a pipe and hammer, but they obviously didn’t anticipate the occupant having a gun. We’re very fortunate that no innocent persons were injured. Drugs clearly played a role in this on-going dispute.“

Cox was in the apartment and reportedly shot and injured one of Tetter, and the burglary suspects left the scene and drove to the hospital.

Traver-Clifton, Smith and Cox will be transferred Wednesday to Jefferson County Jail, and Tetter will be transferred to the county jail upon his release from the hospital. The fourth burglary suspect has not yet been identified, Rector said.