Former University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) football player Carlos Stephens was found guilty of capital murder Tuesday following the fatal shooting of a Birmingham nursing student.
Destiny Washington, 20, was shot dead in a parked car outside the UAB student center in December 2020. Washington was with her boyfriend, Keyuntae Moultrie, who was trying to sell a pair of earbuds when the exchange turned deadly.
Prosecutors said Stephens, 24, grew angry when Moultrie tried to sell him a pair of fake AirPods, raised the price they had agreed on earlier and claimed Stephens was using counterfeit money.
The defense argued Moultrie threatened to kill Stephens and that Stephens fired in self-defense. In his testimony, Stephens said he drew his pistol after Moultrie pointed a gun at him.
Stephens said he fired a “warning shot.” Evidence showed the bullet went through the rear of the back of the car and struck Washington, killing her. Stephens surrendered to the police shortly after the killing and has been jailed since.
According to her family, Washington would have become a Registered Nurse in May 2021.
Melanie Gaines offered her condolences to Washington's family after the shooting. She was Washington's AP English teacher at Clay-Chalkville High School.
"It's such a tragedy for her family," said Gaines. "As a teacher, your students are always your kids, no matter how many years pass. It's always hard."
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