Kevin P. Davidson, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama
A Montgomery man has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for his involvement in a fatal shooting at a local gas station. Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced the sentencing of Rodriques Javaun Humphrey, 20, on February 24, 2026. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records, the incident took place on January 7, 2025. Officers from the Montgomery Police Department and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency were on Zelda Road when they heard gunfire between two vehicles at a nearby gas station. When officers responded, they saw three people fleeing the scene. One individual was struck by gunfire and died at the location.
Two suspects ran toward an apartment complex behind the gas station. One of them, identified as Humphrey, was armed with a rifle and backpack and fired at responding police officers while fleeing. Additional law enforcement, including deputies from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and an MPD K-9 unit, assisted in locating the suspects. One suspect surrendered and was taken into custody; Humphrey continued to flee but was eventually apprehended by authorities. The rifle he carried was recovered.
A search of Humphrey’s backpack revealed multiple plastic bags containing marijuana and a digital scale. Investigators also found an AR-style pistol that had been modified with a machinegun conversion device to operate as a fully automatic weapon. The serial number on this firearm had been scratched off.
On August 13, 2025, Humphrey pleaded guilty to several charges: illegal possession of a machinegun, possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
The third person who fled the scene, Ladarius Lamar Knight, entered a fast-food restaurant across the street while armed and was apprehended by ALEA officers. Knight previously pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and could receive up to 15 years in prison.
The case was investigated by multiple agencies: the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) including its Metro Area Crime Suppression Unit (MACS), Montgomery Police Department, and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney John J. Geer III is prosecuting.
“This case is part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime,” according to officials.
