HPD arrests one for murder of Oakwood University student
HUNTSVILLE — Huntsville Police Department arrested a teen Friday morning in connection with the homicide of a 20-year-old Oakwood University student.
With the help of Huntsville’s Criminal Investigation Unit and information from the community, HPD arrested 19-year-old Jaylun Demarcus White of Huntsville for the murder of Carvell Goodlow of Detroit, Michigan. The homicide took place at Westlake Apartments on Sparkman Drive.
According to Huntsville Police Chief Mark McMurray, HEMSI and police officers responded to a 911 call at approximately 10:45 p.m. Sept. 16 from a resident of Westlake. The caller said they heard gunshots outside their apartment and discovered Goodlow’s body between buildings. McMurray said the investigation has “gone on all week.”
“It makes me absolutely proud to be part of a department that can handle something like this so quickly,” McMurray said. “ … Just this week … we’ve been very busy, but obviously I’m very proud of these men and women in CID. Everyone’s been brought to quick and swift justice.”
Senior Sgt. Jack Pugh of the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) said an argument “started out at a club located in the county, and then it went to social media, then it ended up at the service station” at the corner of Sparkman Drive and Jordan Lane. Multiple people were involved in incident, but Pugh said the altercation that occurred behind the service station and the shooting at Westlake are not directly related. Goodlow and White were not the main pair involved in the argument, and it is not presumed that they knew each other.
With social media-encouraged altercations and gun-related incidents on the rise, Pugh warned against being careless.
“I think a lot of people—young people and old people—don’t realize there is consequences to their actions … we’ve had several victims, and we still have some unsolved cases where these people will come to these fights because of social media, and then you’ll have an innocent person that gets struck by a bullet or something like that,” Pugh said. “They just don’t realize the danger when you go to these fights.”
Oakwood University Police Chief Melvin Harris and Oakwood University President Leslie Pollard attended HPD’s press conference to address the news of the arrest.
Harris thanked everyone involved with the case for “the swift justice that was taken for this murder.”
“Normally crimes don’t get solved this quickly, so we just thank the Huntsville police department adding that quick justice,” Harris said.
Pollard read the following statement:
“While our Oakwood family remains saddened over the death of our student, Carvell Goodlow—a bright young man, one of eight children, a basketball lover, an encourager on campus, a first-generation college student trying to set a new direction for his seven younger siblings—we are thankful for the work of the Huntsville Police Department, the Oakwood University Police Department and the Criminal Investigation Unit of HPD. The arrest of the murder suspect allows us to begin the process of healing first and foremost for Carvell’s family, and then on the campus of Oakwood University, where he was greatly loved. In a moving memorial service yesterday, our student body and employ family remembered Carvell with humor, with tears and most importantly, with the hope that we will see him again. I wish to thank our local Huntsville community, regional and national supporters, as well as all of those who prayed from around the world for healing and safety. On this coming Tuesday, Carvell will be funeralized in Detroit, Michigan, at the Burns Avenue Seventh Day Adventist Church. Thank you again for all of your support on behalf of the Oakwood University Community.”
Pugh noted that although an arrest has been made, the crime is still under investigation.
