A former University of Alabama track star and Olympian was one of two men killed in a shootout Sunday afternoon in Bessemer.
The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office on Monday identified the men as Emmit King, 62, and Willie Albert Wells, 60.
King was a retired track and field sprinter who twice was a member of the American relay team for the Summer Olympics in 1984 and 1988, but he did not compete.
A Hueytown High School graduate, King competed for Jefferson State Community College and the University of Alabama and was the 1983 NCAA 100 meters national champion.
Also in 1983, he medaled in the inaugural World Championships in the men’s 100 meters.
JUN 18 1984; (LA55) Los Angeles,Ca. June 19--Special Transmission to the Denver Post--A jubilant Carl Lewis raises his fists in ***** after capturing the 100 meters at the Olympic trials. At Lewis left is Emmit King. (AP Laserphoto) (dls12120dls) 1984 Denver Post photo by Damian Strohmeyer; Olympic Games - 1984-Summer; (Photo By Damian Strohmeyer/The Denver Post via Getty Images)Denver Post via Getty Images
The gunfire erupted about 3:40 p.m. in front of a house in the 800 block of 22nd Street North.
Authorities said King and Wells knew each other and were arguing back and forth when both pulled guns and fired.
Wells was pronounced dead on the scene at 3:59 p.m. and King was taken to UAB West where he was pronounced dead at 4:40 p.m.
The deaths mark Bessemer’s 26th and 27th homicides this year. The city ended 2020 with 18 homicides.
In all of Jefferson County, there have been 185, surpassing last year’s 183 homicides with more than a month to go in the year.