BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — New details have emerged in the case against 22-year-old De’Corlion Keshaun Robinson, who is charged with murder in the August shooting death of Birmingham high school football coach Demetrice Darnell Beverly. During a Wednesday court hearing, testimony revealed Robinson told detectives he only meant to fire a warning shot when he discovered Beverly in his apartment, but claimed the gun “kept firing.”
The fatal shooting took place inside an apartment leased by Robinson and his longtime girlfriend. According to testimony from Birmingham Homicide Detective Ronald Davenport, Robinson’s girlfriend admitted she had invited Beverly — her co-worker at Children’s of Alabama — over to hang out, talk, and watch a movie. She said Beverly had not been there long when Robinson unexpectedly returned home.
“She stated the victim had been there not long, they were watching TV on the bed,” Davenport testified. “She stated the defendant had come home and found them there. She confronted him, and he pulled out a gun and shot at the victim.” The girlfriend said she told Robinson not to do anything, but moments later, gunfire erupted inside the bedroom.
Robinson reportedly admitted to detectives that he fired his weapon but insisted he had no intention of killing Beverly. Instead, he claimed he meant to scare him and that the gun continued to discharge beyond his control. Beverly, 39, was struck multiple times and later died from his injuries, leaving family, friends, and the Birmingham school community grieving his sudden loss.
Following Wednesday’s hearing, the presiding judge determined there was sufficient probable cause to move the case forward. Robinson, who is currently out on bond, will now have his case presented to a grand jury for possible indictment. Prosecutors emphasized the seriousness of the charge and Beverly’s role as a well-respected figure in Birmingham’s athletic community.
Beverly’s death has left an enduring impact on those who knew him as both a coach and mentor. Loved ones continue to mourn while awaiting justice in the case. Meanwhile, investigators remain focused on presenting the facts to the grand jury, which will ultimately decide whether Robinson should stand trial for murder.