13-year-old dead after ATV struck in hit-and-run by driver fleeing Birmingham shooting: ‘He was always smiling’

A boy who was critically injured in a hit-and-run while riding his ATV on Birmingham’s west side has died.

Braylen Hardy, who turned 13 on September 20, passed away on Tuesday at Children’s of Alabama, three days after the crash in Ensley. His mother, Vanessa Riggs, described him as “a sweet kid” who was always smiling.

On Saturday evening, Braylen was sitting on his four-wheeler on a sidewalk on Avenue E, having just finished riding with his father and brothers—an activity they cherished. Around 6:45 p.m., shots were fired nearby in the 2400 block of Avenue D. Birmingham police reported that a vehicle fleeing the shooting scene struck Braylen.

The driver fled on foot but was apprehended by officers a few blocks away. While no formal charges have been announced, the Birmingham Police Department’s Traffic Homicide Unit is continuing its investigation.

Riggs explained that her son was preparing to put away the ATV when he was hit. “A man driving erratically, going 60 or more, lost control, hopped the curb, and hit my baby,” she said.

Riggs rushed to the scene but found that Braylen had already been transported to the hospital. Despite efforts to stabilize him, he suffered severe injuries, including damage to his lungs and head, as well as a broken leg and arm. 

“We were hoping for a miracle,” Riggs said. However, after multiple tests showed no brain activity, the family made the heart-wrenching decision to let him go. “The only thing keeping him alive was the breathing machine,” she shared. “I just decided to let him be an angel.”

Braylen was a seventh grader at Bush Hills STEAM Academy, where he had just made the basketball team and was looking forward to his first game. “He was so excited about it,” Riggs recalled. 

Braylen loved playing video games and had a favorite meal of six mild wings with Cajun ranch cheese fries. “He was just a happy kid,” his mother reflected. 

Braylen was well-liked at school, with his teacher once calling to share how popular he was with his classmates. His principal visited him in the hospital, noting how well he was doing academically, and the family was hopeful he would attend Ramsay High School.

Superintendent Mark Sullivan expressed condolences to the family, and counseling is being offered to students and staff affected by the tragedy. Braylen is survived by three brothers and a sister, all mourning the loss of their fun-loving sibling. “He loved spending time with his family,” Riggs said. “He was just a joyful kid.”