By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

HOOVER – The Hoover Police Department is searching for a suspect after a 25-year-old employee at the Home Depot off U.S. 280 was shot and killed in the business’s parking lot in the early morning hours of Sept. 5.

Hoover police received a 911 call reporting shots fired at the business, which is at 4995 U.S. 280, at 12:31 a.m. When officers arrived, they found 25-year-old Birmingham resident Xavier Montrez Beasley lying unresponsive on the ground suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Paramedics pronounced the victim dead on the scene.

“Preliminary information indicates the victim was an employee of Home Depot and that he was leaving work for the night. The store had been closed for several hours but some employees routinely work well past closing time,” read a Hoover police release. As the victim was walking to his vehicle an unknown gunman appeared and starting firing at him.”

As of Sept. 5, the shooter was still at-large after fleeing the scene on foot, and Hoover police had not yet determined a motive in the shooting.

“There was no robbery attempt and no words were exchanged prior to shots being fired. Since at least one other employee was nearby at the time, it appears the victim was specifically targeted by the suspect,” read the release. “It appears the suspect may have been waiting on the victim to walk into the parking lot, and starting firing as soon as he approached. The victim likely knew the suspect and it appears that he was specifically targeted.”

Anyone with information about this case should call Sgt. Keith Czeskleba at 739-6795 or the Hoover Police Department at 822-5300. Those wishing to remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward may contact Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama at 254-7777.