Two sisters were shot dead in their own apartment by someone they had been living with—and the most heartbreaking part is that babies were present when it happened, breathing the same air as the violence that tore through their home. The deadly shooting unfolded just before midnight on Monday at the Woodlawn Manor Apartments in Tuscaloosa, where 20-year-old Kaliyah Houston and her 16-year-old sister lost their lives to senseless gunfire.
According to investigators, the suspected shooter, 19-year-old Keshawn Jermichael Woods, had been staying in Kaliyah’s apartment for several months. What began as a verbal argument that night quickly escalated beyond control. Instead of walking away, police say Woods drew a handgun and opened fire inside the apartment.
The shots rang out in a place meant for rest and safety, with an infant and other very young children just feet away.A 17-year-old boy was also struck by gunfire but managed to survive and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Officers arriving on scene described a chaotic and devastating scene—family members crying,
neighbors rushing outside, and the sound of children’s wails cutting through the night air.Woods fled the scene but was later taken into custody following an intense manhunt. Authorities are charging him with multiple counts, including capital murder, due to the presence of minors during the crime.The Tuscaloosa community is reeling from the tragedy, with friends and relatives mourning two young women
described as caring, protective sisters and devoted mothers. Vigils are already being planned to honor their memory and to demand stronger measures against domestic violence and gun-related deaths. What happened inside that small apartment serves as a grim reminder of how quickly anger can turn fatal—and how deeply the ripples of violence wound those left behind.
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