Muscle Shoals Police Make Arrest In April 12 Traffic Homicide Investigation

MUSCLE SHOALS-On the night of April 12, 2026, Barbara Ann Koontz, 67, of Florence, AL, succumbed to injuries and was pronounced deceased after being flown to Huntsville Hospital as a result of being struck by a vehicle in a Hit-And-Run traffic collision in the 400 block of W. 6th St. in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.

On April 12, 2026 at approximately 11:45PM, Officers with the Muscle Shoals Police Department were dispatched to the 400 Block of W. 6th St. in reference to a traffic collision with injuries. Officers were notified of the offending vehicle leaving the scene.

Once MSPD Officers arrived on scene, they observed a red Chevrolet 1500 truck damaged in the roadway, along with debris from the collision with another vehicle scattered across the roadway, and a female being attended to by MSFD and medical personnel. They were also met by a witness to the incident. Muscle Shoals Police Department Traffic Homicide Investigators (MSPD THI) responded to the scene and began their investigation.

The witness told MSPD THI, Koontz had stopped her 2001 Chevrolet 1500 in the roadway due to a trampoline falling from the bed of the truck. The witness ran to help Koontz retrieve the trampoline. It was at that moment a white 2026 GMC 2500 Denali, driven by Brett Wilson Black, 31, of Florence, AL, began approaching Koontz, the witness, and Koontz’s vehicle at speed. The oncoming vehicle did not show any signs of slowing down. As Koontz was attempting to make her way back to the driver’s side door of her truck, the witness yelled at her in an attempt to alert her of the oncoming vehicle. Koontz and her 2001 Chevrolet 1500 were struck by the vehicle. The witness observed the offending truck stop, and the driver of the truck exit the vehicle to look at his own vehicle, and then drive away from the scene as the witness ran inside his residence to call 911.

The MSPD THI along with the MSPD Detective Division began their investigation into what was now deemed a Traffic Homicide Investigation. Analysis of vehicle debris as well as surveillance video from businesses and homes throughout the state of Alabama, provided Investigators with vital information of the vehicle and driver identification.

During the course of all the information and evidence gathered, the totality of circumstances provided MSPD THI and Detectives with a positive identification of the vehicle and its driver. The investigation lead MSPD THI to retrieving the offending 2026 GMC 2500 Denali, abandoned in a hotel parking lot in Prattville, Alabama.

As such, Arrest Warrants were obtained by MSPD THI and issued for Brett Wilson Black, 31, of Florence, Alabama for the following charges:

•Felony-Leaving The Scene Of An Accident With Death or Injury

•Criminally Negligent Homicide

•Tampering With Physical Evidence

Black, 31, was booked into the Colbert County Jail on a $25,000 Bond on April 23, 2026.

The Muscle Shoals Police Department appreciates the hard work and long hours dedicated by MSPD THI and the MSPD Detective Division during this case. Any and all suspects in criminal cases are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law.

The Muscle Shoals Police Department would also like extend thoughts and prayers to Barbara Ann Koontz’s family and friends during these tragic and difficult times.