Birmingham VA Hospital Re-Opens; Huntsville Suspect Found Dead

BIRMINGHAM, AL — The VA Medical Center in Birmingham, placed on lockdown since early Thursday afternoon, re-opened Friday morning after news hot that a suspect in a Huntsville shooting rumored to be headed for the VA was found dead.

Huntsville police confirmed in a statement Friday morning that 46-year-old Cornett Demetric Evans, a veteran, was found dead in a hotel in Birmingham.

"Early this morning, the suspect was located by our Marshals Task Force and local LE in the Birmingham area at a hotel," Huntsville PD said in a statement. "During that time the offender took his own life."

VA spokesman Jeffrey Hester said the Birmingham VA Medical Center was open and resumed regular operations Friday morning. Hester said there was no indication that Evans had actually been at the facility.

Evans was wanted in a shooting at Sunlake at Edgewater apartments on Lakefront Drive. The shooting happened at about 11:30 a.m. Thursday. The victim in the shooting died Thursday afternoon.

Evans suicide ends the statewide search for him, but also adds to the number of suicides — namely among veterans — reported in the state. Anyone needing help regarding suicide and depression can reach out to the Alabama Suicide Prevention and Resource Coalition (at 2330 Highland Avenue in Birmingham) at 205-907-3266.