Alabama
Amber Alert in Alabama: Auburn Police Hunt for Suspect Father in Double Homicide, Son Missing
Auburn Police found a woman and her juvenile daughter dead at a Samantha Court home during a welfare check.
Photo : iStock
A chilling discovery in Auburn, Alabama, has sparked an urgent Amber Alert for 3-year-old Jibreel Harun, believed to be in imminent danger after a double homicide. Auburn Police responded to a welfare check at a home in the 1200 block of Samantha Court around 2:30 p.m. On Thursday, the bodies of an adult woman and her juvenile daughter, whose identities remain undisclosed, were found. The scene, captured in photos submitted by a WSFA 12 News viewer, revealed a grim tragedy that has shaken the community.
Investigators quickly identified Aaron Dontay Williams, 41, the husband of the deceased woman and father of the missing child, as a key suspect. Williams was not at the home when police arrived, and authorities believe he has fled with Jibreel, last seen on Monday. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency issued the Amber Alert, warning that the child’s life is at risk.
Suspect Considered Armed and Dangerous
Williams, described as 6’1”, 240 pounds, with a medium complexion, is believed to be driving a grey 2010 Honda Accord with Alabama license plate 43A224A. The Auburn Police Department has urged the public not to approach Williams, who is considered armed and dangerous, and to call 911 immediately if spotted. Tips on his whereabouts should be reported to 334-501-7313, as law enforcement intensifies the manhunt across east Alabama.
The double homicide investigation is ongoing, with police yet to release details on the cause of death or motive. The community is reeling from the loss of the woman and her daughter, described by neighbours as a tight-knit family. Authorities are working around the clock to locate Jibreel and bring Williams into custody before further harm occurs.
Community Urged to Stay Vigilant
The Amber Alert has mobilised residents and law enforcement across Alabama, with Jibreel’s safety at the forefront of the search. The Auburn Police Department is coordinating with state agencies to track the suspect’s vehicle, last seen in the Auburn area. Community members are asked to check security footage and report any sightings of the grey Honda Accord to aid in the investigation.
As the search continues, Auburn residents are grappling with the shock of the violent crime in their quiet neighbourhood. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency has emphasised the urgency of the situation, noting that every moment is critical in ensuring Jibreel’s safe return. Updates will be provided as the investigation unfolds.
Alabama
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WBRC) – Pauline Love, the new head coach of the Alabama women’s basketball team, says her late college coach, Joye Lee-McNelis, is the reason she got into coaching.
Love played for Lee-McNelis at Southern Miss, describing her as a second mother. Lee-McNelis passed away last summer after a long battle with breast cancer.
A relationship that changed her path
Love said she once told Lee-McNelis she would never go into coaching, a conversation the two laughed about often.
“I used to tell her all the time, I would never do this. I would never put up with somebody like me or I would never work for somebody like her. I was like coach, you’re crazy. We used to laugh about it all the time and she was like you’ll see one day, you’ll see,” Love said.
Love had planned to work in the tech industry. Instead, she has spent 15 years in coaching.
“She pretty much paved the way for me. There’s no way I’d be sitting here if it wasn’t for her,” Love said.
High expectations at Alabama
Love returns to Tuscaloosa after previously serving as an assistant at Alabama. She was introduced as head coach in April, and was brought to tears when she mentioned Lee-McNelis during that introduction.
Her goals for the program are clear.
“I’m going to have a passion about it. I want to bring a Final Four to the University of Alabama and make Tuscaloosa proud,” Love said.
This year’s roster includes Spring Garden’s Ace Austin, back for her sophomore season.
Love said she wants her players to know that difficult times are part of the process.
“I can say for them, I’ve been there. I’ve done it. Just learn how to figure out and fight through hard things. You gotta do something hard and fight through it and I promise you it’s rewarding at the end of it,” Love said.
Love said she also wants to be a source of support for her players off the court, the same way Lee-McNelis was for her.
“I know we always get caught up in the money part of it, but I got a group of girls that doesn’t care about that. They want to care about making the fans happy and giving them something good to watch,” Love said.
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Alabama football fans are invited to a preseason pep rally Aug. 4 at the Tuscaloosa River Market.
The pep rally is part of the annual fall kickoff event hosted by the Tuscaloosa County chapter of the University of Alabama National Alumni Association.
The family friendly event will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the River Market, 1900 Jack Warner Parkway. Tickets, which include a barbecue dinner, cost $30 for adults and $15 for children ages 8 to 12. Children 7 years old and younger will be admitted for free.
The pep rally will feature live entertainment, a silent auction and a range of family-friendly activities. There will also be a cash bar with wine and beer.
Tickets can be purchased on the chapter’s website, tuscaloosacountyuaalumni.com. Membership in the local alumni chapter is not required for attendance.
University of Alabama President Peter Mohler and UA baseball coach Rob Vaughn will be part of the festivities.
Mohler began his duties as UA president on July 21, 2025.
Before being named UA president, Mohler spent nearly 15 years at Ohio State University, where he held senior leadership roles overseeing research, innovation and economic development. He also served as OSU’s acting president, providing leadership during a pivotal period for one of the nation’s largest public universities.
Mohler earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Wake Forest University and a PhD in cell and molecular physiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute at Duke University Medical Center before joining the faculty at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Vaughn has been UA’s head baseball coach for three years, leading the Crimson Tide to the College Baseball World Series in 2026.
The Humble, Texas, native served as head baseball coach at Maryland for five seasons before coming to Tuscaloosa.
Vaughn played collegiate baseball at Kansas State, where his position was catcher.
Alabama begins the 2026 football season on Sept. 5 with a home game against the East Carolina Pirates. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Other Alabama home games include Florida State on Sept. 19, South Carolina on Sept. 26, Georgia on Oct. 10, Texas A&M on Oct. 24, Chattanooga on Nov. 21 and Auburn on Nov. 28.
Reach Ken Roberts at ken.roberts@tuscaloosanews.com. To support his work, please subscribe to The Tuscaloosa News.
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