Six years ago today, Roger Cheatham was killed when three masked men burst into his north Birmingham home.
There have been no arrests, and no rest for his heartbroken mother.
“That was my son, and he can’t fight for himself,’’ Angela Cheatham said. “There’s nobody but me and his sister to keep it going.”
It was about 10:15 p.m. on Aug. 16, 2016, when Angela got off the phone with her son. Just 15 minutes later, she started receiving more phone calls, this time from people delivering news that Roger had been shot.
She didn’t know how bad it was until she got to UAB Hospital where her son and another man had been rushed with gunshot wounds. Roger died the following day. The other victim, whose name was not ever released, recovered.
Police said a witness told investigators they were inside the house when three Black males forced their way in. Once inside, they held everyone at gunpoint and began to search the residence for unknown items.
Once the trio found what they were looking for, both men were shot. All three suspects fled the scene in a purple Nissan Altima.
Roger’s teen son heard the commotion and woke up the 7-year-old son. Roger’s 4-year-old daughter slept through the ordeal.
The kids took cover in a closet and when the gunfire ended, the boys found their father critically wounded. They are now 19 and 13.
Angela and police believe they know who may have killed Roger, but they still need more evidence and more witnesses.
The office of Gov. Kay Ivey in 2018 issued a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in Roger’s death and that offer still stands. That reward money is in addition to the existing Crime Stoppers reward, which is up to $5,000.
“I’m begging the public for their help,’’ Angela said. “My son didn’t deserve this, and I just want to know, ‘Why?’’
“I do want justice,’’ she said. “I’m not going to ever give up.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Birmingham police homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
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