MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – The Montgomery community and church leaders across the Wiregrass are mourning the death of Pastor DaQuarius Green, who died Saturday after being shot days earlier in Level Plains.
Green, 31, was widely known in Montgomery for his ministry and outreach, even though the shooting happened outside the city.
According to the Dale County Sheriff’s Office, Green was shot during a domestic incident inside a home in the Freedom Heights neighborhood off Rucker Boulevard in Level Plains on December 23. He later died in the hospital. Authorities say no charges have been filed, and the case remains under investigation.
Minister DiVonta Palmer, a fellow pastor and friend, says Green was someone he crossed paths with often through church and everyday life.
“We weren’t best friends or anything like that,” Palmer said. “But when I would see him, whether at church or at Walmart, we always talked.”
Palmer says their conversations frequently centered on faith, family, and fatherhood.
“He was telling me how fatherhood had changed him,” Palmer said.
To Palmer, Green was someone who carried himself with humility and purpose.
“To me, the man was a humble man, an honest man, a man who deeply loved God and his family,” Palmer said. “We ran in the same church circles, and every interaction mattered.”
One moment stands out most to Palmer; when Green surprised him by showing up at his church unannounced.
“He tapped me on the shoulder and said, ‘Brother Palmer,’” he recalled. “I had no idea he was coming. That meant a lot.”
Palmer says learning about Green’s death was devastating.
“I couldn’t believe this happened to him,” Palmer said.
Despite past legal matters that were ultimately dismissed, friends say they remember Green as a man committed to his faith, his family, and a life of service.
“He was human,” Palmer said. “A man of God. A father. A husband. He did not deserve to die.”
Green was identified in a Facebook post as the pastor of Elba Zion Missionary Baptist Church. In a statement, the church thanked God for Green’s service and spiritual leadership, asking the community to keep his family and congregation in prayer.
A prayer vigil was held Sunday in Green’s honor.
Authorities say the investigation into the shooting remains ongoing.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence or needs help, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24/7 at 800-799-SAFE.
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