Tuscaloosa Murder Suspect Recently Released From Prison For Armed Robbery

TUSCALOOSA, AL — A Tuscaloosa man charged with murder following a fatal shooting at a local gas station had a prior criminal record and was recently released from prison after serving a long sentence for armed robbery.

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As Patch previously reported, Dennis Jamar Anderson, 41, was arrested after the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit and Tuscaloosa Police Department responded at approximately 11:30 p.m. Monday to the initial call of a shooting at Tuscaloosa Food & Fashion — a gas station and convenience store on 20th Street in the city's West End.

Investigators said when officers arrived at the scene, they found a man dead from multiple gunshot wounds and eventually gathered additional evidence and witness interviews leading to Anderson's arrest.

Court documents say that the shooting was captured on video surveillance, which led to Anderson being developed as a suspect and arrested after clothing worn by the suspect in the shooting video was found at the location where Anderson was taken into custody.

The deposition for Anderson's arrest identifies 33-year-old Demarco Billups as the man killed in the shooting.

It remains unclear what prompted the shooting.

Anderson is currently being held at the Tuscaloosa County Jail without bond and investigators said additional charges against Anderson and other individuals may be filed.

Tuscaloosa County Jail records show Anderson was also charged with trafficking cocaine when he was arrested for the shooting. His bond on the trafficking charge was set at $100,000 but he remains behind bars for murder, pursuant to Aniah's Law.

The recent charges also come on the heels of Anderson being released from Staton Correctional Facility in Elmore in April 2024 after serving more than 20 years for an armed robbery in Calhoun County.

Court records show that Anderson and another man were arrested in April 2002 after brandishing handguns during the commission of the robbery at a Domino's Pizza in Anniston.

Anderson entered a guilty plea to first-degree robbery and Calhoun County Circuit Judge Malcolm Street Jr. sentenced him to 23 years in prison in February 2003 under the Habitual Offender Act, further underscoring Anderson's prior criminal record.

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