BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – A well-known high school football coach was shot and killed earlier this month in Birmingham, leaving students, colleagues, and loved ones devastated. Authorities say Demetrice Darnell Beverly, 39, a coach at Parker High School, was fatally shot on August 13 while visiting a female friend.
The Shooting Incident
According to the Birmingham Police Department, Beverly was inside a woman’s apartment when her boyfriend, De’Corlion Keshaun Robinson, returned home. Investigators allege Robinson entered the bedroom where Beverly and the woman were, shot Beverly, and then fled the scene.
The woman immediately called 911, and first responders arrived around 9 p.m. Authorities found Beverly unresponsive in the bedroom, and Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service pronounced him dead shortly afterward.
Suspect Arrested and Charged
Robinson was arrested the following day, August 14, and charged with:
One count of murder
One count of unlawful possession of a machine gun conversion device
He was initially held without bond, but a judge later granted him a $165,000 bond on August 18, according to AL.com.
Defense Claims ‘Heat of Passion’
Robinson’s attorney, Emory Anthony, suggested his client should face a manslaughter charge rather than murder, arguing the shooting was committed in the “heat of passion.”
“At best, it should have been manslaughter instead of murder, heat of passion under the facts of the case that will eventually come out,” Anthony said.
Remembering Coach Beverly
While legal proceedings continue, Beverly’s family, friends, and colleagues are remembering him as a dedicated father, husband, and mentor.
Frank Warren, Parker High School’s head coach and Beverly’s close friend, described him as someone who always put others first:
“He’d give you the shirt off his back. He brought energy every day. He brought the best out of these kids.”
Funeral services for Beverly are being held this weekend, as the community comes together to honor his life and contributions both on and off the field.
The tragic shooting has left Parker High School and Birmingham’s wider sports community mourning the sudden loss of a coach who shaped the lives of countless students. As the case moves through court, Beverly will be remembered for his positive spirit and lasting impact.
