Thieves Loot Bedroom Of Slain Woodlawn Student

BIRMINGHAM, AL - As if the family of slain Woodlawn High School student William Edwards has not been through enough, after the murder of the 16-year-old football star over Labor Day weekend, the home of the victim was burglarized this week and Edwards' room ransacked. The thieves took most of Edwards' belongings in the robbery.

Sometime this week, someone broke into the family's 80th Street home through a window, went directly to William's bedroom and stole all of his clothing, shoes, cologne and other belongings, according to a report by Alabama Media Group.

"They took him, and now they took everything I had that was his,'' said Vatongula Edwards in an interview with al.com's Carol Robinson. "They stole his life, and now his clothes and shoes."

Edwards said she and her family are not currently living in the home in which her son was killed. She returned to the home Wednesday to find that everything was missing from William's bedroom. "They went straight to William's bedroom,'' she said.

William Edwards was pronounced dead about 12:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 1, at the family's 80th Street North home. Birmingham police said he was killed by bullets fired from outside the home, and they didn't believe the shooting was random. (For more updates on this story and free news alerts for your neighborhood, sign up for your local Patch morning newsletter.)

A suspect has been arrested in connection with the homicide. Roderick Hodges, the 17-year-old suspect, has been charged with capital murder.

Related Story: Suspect Charged In Shooting Death Of Woodlawn Teen

The burglary is under investigation by Birmingham police. No arrests have yet been made.

Photo by Renee Schiavone/Patch