Birmingham, Alabama — A planned meeting outside a McDonald’s restaurant ended in deadly gunfire, leaving a 20-year-old man dead and another person injured, according to police. Two suspects, including an adult man and a 17-year-old boy, have been arrested in connection with the shooting.
Ernesto Pablo, 20, has been charged with capital murder in the death of Isaiah Hosanna, along with attempted murder and discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle, the Birmingham Police Department announced Wednesday.
Authorities also arrested a 17-year-old boy in connection with the incident. Police have not publicly clarified the teenager’s charges, but said he was taken to the Birmingham City Jail and “placed on a 48-hour Felony Extension.”
Investigators are continuing to examine what led to the shooting and why the people involved had gathered outside the restaurant.
Planned Meeting Ends in Gunfire
The shooting happened on September 28 at a McDonald’s restaurant in the 2200 block of Bessemer Road in Birmingham.
According to police information reported by local Fox affiliate WBRC, investigators believe Hosanna and others had arranged to meet someone outside the fast-food restaurant.
The purpose of the meeting has not been made clear publicly. However, authorities allege that after the meeting concluded, one of the suspects opened fire, striking Hosanna and another person.
The shooting quickly turned the restaurant’s parking lot into an emergency scene, with both victims suffering gunshot wounds.
Police have not released further details about what happened immediately before the gunfire or whether the people involved knew one another.
Hosanna Dies After Being Rushed to Hospital
Officers were called to the McDonald’s at approximately 9 p.m. on September 28 after reports of a shooting.
When responding officers arrived, they reportedly found Hosanna in the parking lot. He was transported to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment, but his injuries proved fatal.
Hosanna was pronounced dead at approximately 9:30 p.m., about half an hour after police received the call.
A second victim was also struck during the shooting. Police described that person’s injuries as “non-life-threatening.” The gunfire also caused property damage at the restaurant, with windows of the McDonald’s shattered during the incident.
Authorities have not publicly identified the second victim in the information released so far.
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Two Suspects Arrested in Decatur
The investigation led authorities to two suspects who were arrested Tuesday in the 2100 block of Westmead Drive Southwest in Decatur, Alabama.
Decatur is approximately 80 miles north of the Birmingham crime scene.
Pablo was taken into custody and booked into the Jefferson County Jail. He is being held without bond while facing the charges announced by Birmingham police.
The 17-year-old suspect was taken to the Birmingham City Jail, where police said he was placed on a 48-hour felony extension. Officials have not provided further public details about the teenager’s alleged role or the specific charges he may face.
The arrests mark a significant development in the investigation, although questions remain about the circumstances surrounding the planned meeting and what prompted the alleged shooting.
Investigation Continues as Questions Remain
Police have identified the charges against Pablo, but the full sequence of events leading to Hosanna’s death remains unclear.
Investigators have not publicly explained the purpose of the meeting, identified a possible motive or detailed the evidence that led them to the two suspects.
The case also involves a juvenile suspect, whose identity and legal circumstances may be subject to additional restrictions.
As the investigation continues, authorities may release further information about the alleged shooting, the suspects’ individual roles and the events that unfolded in the restaurant’s parking lot.
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