Kierston Russell, the dual sister of Alabama quarterback and five-star recruit Keelon Russell, died Wednesday, Tuscaloosa police confirmed in a press release. She was 18.
Capt. Jack Kennedy of the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Workplace Violent Crimes Unit mentioned the investigation is ongoing and that Russell’s loss of life seems to be non-criminal in nature. As a result of it’s not a felony investigation, police didn’t launch any further info.
“There was appreciable media consideration regarding a loss of life investigation that occurred (in Tuscaloosa) on June 4, 2025,” Kennedy mentioned in a press release. “After talking with the household, and in an try and quell media inquiries, they’ve given permission to substantiate the loss of life of Kierston Russell.”
The Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit, per the assertion, is concerned within the investigation as a liaison between the Alabama Division of Forensic Companies and the Russell household. Kennedy mentioned that examples of non-criminal loss of life investigations embrace pure or medical deaths, loss of life from accidents and suicides.
The Russell siblings graduated from Duncanville, Texas, final month. Kierston was set to affix Keelon at Alabama this summer season forward of their freshman 12 months. Each performed highschool sports activities as Kierston was an athlete on the varsity’s ladies basketball group and Keelon climbed the recruiting rankings because the No. 2 quarterback within the 2025 class.
“As a household, we’re completely overwhelmed with gratitude on the outpouring of ideas, prayers and messages we have now obtained from household, mates, the College of Alabama, Duncanville Excessive Faculty and other people all throughout the nation this week,” Russell’s mom, April Moore, mentioned in a press release posted on social media. “There isn’t a means we will reply to all of them however please know we see and really feel your whole love and help. These are phrases a mom by no means imagines having to write down about their little one in a lifetime. I do know I’ll by no means actually be complete once more.”
