It was supposed to be a regular Tuesday night in the Rocket City. People were just grabbing wings and beer. Then, everything changed. On the night of July 12, 2022, the Twin Peaks shooting Huntsville location became the center of a chaotic scene that left the community reeling and local law enforcement scrambling for answers.
People often confuse this with the infamous Waco shootout because of the brand name. Don't. This wasn't a massive biker war. It was a targeted, violent encounter in a parking lot that bled into the entryway of a crowded restaurant. When the first 911 calls hit the dispatch at around 9:40 PM, the "scenic views" the franchise is known for were replaced by blue lights and yellow tape.
The Chaos on University Drive
The restaurant sits right on University Drive. It's a high-traffic area. Because of that, the police response was almost instantaneous, but the damage was already done. Basically, what started as an altercation between individuals escalated into gunfire faster than anyone could react.
Two people were shot.
Huntsville Police Department (HPD) officers arrived to find a 23-year-old man, later identified as Jaylan Deshaun Moore, suffering from gunshot wounds. He didn't make it. Moore was pronounced dead at the scene. Another victim was rushed to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. It's weird how a place designed for relaxation can turn into a crime scene in under sixty seconds. The panic inside was real. Patrons reported diving under tables and locking themselves in bathrooms. You can’t blame them.
Sorting Through the Investigation
Detectives didn't have to wait long for a lead. Crime scene investigators spent hours marking shell casings in the parking lot. The Twin Peaks shooting Huntsville investigation quickly shifted from a "whodunit" to a "why did this happen" scenario.
HPD Major Crimes Unit took the lead. They looked at surveillance footage from the surrounding businesses. In a city like Huntsville, which is growing at a breakneck pace, the influx of people has unfortunately brought an uptick in these types of isolated, violent incidents.
The Arrest of Dejerion De’quan Higgins
Within twenty-four hours, the police had their man. Dejerion Higgins, who was 21 at the time, was arrested and charged with murder.
The legal process is rarely fast. Higgins was booked into the Madison County Jail. According to court records and police statements, this wasn't a random act of mass violence. It was a specific dispute. That’s a common misconception with restaurant shootings; people assume it's a random spree, but more often than not, it's personal baggage spilling over into public spaces.
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The bond was set high. $250,000.
Why This Specific Shooting Stuck in the Public Memory
Huntsville is generally considered a safe, "smart" city. We've got NASA. We've got the Arsenal. When a Twin Peaks shooting Huntsville headline hits the news, it creates a massive ripple effect because it feels out of place for the "Star Bond" district area.
Wait.
Think about the geography. That section of University Drive is a hub for retail. You have the MidCity District just down the road. You have major hotels. If people don't feel safe grabbing a burger at 9:00 PM, it affects the local economy.
Management at Twin Peaks released the standard "our hearts go out to the families" statement, but the reality is that the brand took a hit. Security was ramped up. You started seeing more patrols. Honestly, the vibe changed for a while.
Legal Fallout and Court Proceedings
The wheels of justice in Alabama turn slowly. If you're looking for a quick resolution, you won't find one in the Madison County court system. Higgins' case involved several preliminary hearings where the evidence was laid out.
- Witness testimony confirmed a verbal argument preceded the shots.
- Ballistics matched the casings to a weapon associated with the suspect.
- Defense attorneys argued various angles, but the presence of multiple witnesses made it a difficult hill to climb.
It is important to recognize that the victim, Jaylan Moore, was a young man with a family. Often in these SEO-driven news cycles, the human element gets buried under keywords. He was a person, not just a data point in a crime statistic.
Safety in the Rocket City: A Reality Check
Is Huntsville getting more dangerous? The data is mixed. While the Twin Peaks shooting Huntsville was a high-profile tragedy, the city's leadership maintains that violent crime is being aggressively targeted.
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But you've gotta be smart.
Situational awareness is a phrase people toss around like a buzzword, but it actually matters. Whether you're at a Twin Peaks, a Buffalo Wild Wings, or a local spot like Toybox Bistro, knowing where the exits are isn't paranoia—it's just practical.
The Huntsville Police Department has since increased its "saturation patrols" in high-density shopping areas. This means more officers in parking lots, more visible presence, and a lower tolerance for the types of "loitering" that often precede these escalations.
Misconceptions to Clear Up
- It wasn't a robbery. Despite early rumors on social media (which is always a dumpster fire during active shootings), nothing was stolen from the restaurant.
- The staff wasn't involved. There were whispers that an employee was targeted. Not true. The altercation was between patrons/individuals in the vicinity.
- It didn't happen inside the dining room. Most of the gunfire occurred near the entrance and parking area, though the proximity made it feel like it was "in" the restaurant for those sitting near the windows.
What This Means for Local Businesses
Property owners are now looking at "Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design" (CPTED). It sounds fancy. It’s basically just better lighting, fewer blind spots, and more cameras.
If you're a business owner in Huntsville, the Twin Peaks shooting Huntsville served as a massive wake-up call. You can't just rely on the "good part of town" reputation anymore. You need a plan. You need active shooter training for your waitstaff. You need a relationship with HPD.
Final Perspective on the Case
The tragedy at Twin Peaks wasn't a failure of the restaurant, but a failure of conflict resolution. When young men decide that a disagreement requires a firearm, the entire community pays the price.
Jaylan Moore lost his life. Dejerion Higgins lost his freedom. A business lost its sense of peace.
The case serves as a stark reminder that even in a city moving toward the future with space exploration and tech, the old problems of street violence are still very much present.
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Actionable Safety Steps for Huntsville Residents
If you find yourself in a situation where tensions are rising in a public space, there are actual things you can do to stay safe.
Trust your gut. If a group is getting loud or aggressive in a parking lot, don't walk past them to get to the door. Turn around. Go to a different entrance or leave. It's not worth the risk.
Report "small" things. Most shootings aren't the first sign of trouble. If you see someone flashing a weapon or acting erratic, tell management or call the non-emergency HPD line if it’s not immediate. If it is immediate, hit 911.
Know the layout. When you sit down to eat, take five seconds to find the back exit. Not the front door you walked in—the kitchen exit or the side fire door.
Follow the legal updates. Stay informed on the Madison County Circuit Court dockets if you want to see how these cases end. It's easy to read the "shooting" headline and forget to follow the "sentencing" headline. True justice happens in the months and years following the incident, not just on the night of the arrest.
Support local safety initiatives. Engage with the Huntsville City Council meetings. Ask about police funding for the University Drive corridor. Your voice actually carries weight in local government.
Stay aware. Stay safe. And remember that the Rocket City is only as strong as the people looking out for one another.