Father of slain Birmingham firefighter reflects on loss, justice, and his son’s legacy

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – Nearly two years after the tragic shooting of Birmingham firefighter Jordan Melton, his father, Claude Melton, is still navigating the grief of losing his youngest child.

Now, with a suspect charged in his son’s murder, he finds a small sense of relief – but the pain remains.

Jordan Melton was gunned down outside Birmingham Fire Station 9 in July 2023. More than a week ago, 22-year-old Damien McDaniel was charged in his death. For Claude Melton, the past 19 months have been an emotional battle.

“I think about Jordan many, many times throughout the day,” he shared. “Some days are better than others, some weeks are better than others, but it is getting better.”

From a young age, Jordan Melton knew he wanted to be a firefighter. His father recalls watching him leave for work the morning of July 12, 2023, proud to see his son fulfilling his dream, never imagining how much life was about to change.

“Looked at him like, ‘That is my son,’ watching him do what he needed to do as a young man,” Melton said. “Then I got the call from my daughter that there had been a shooting at the fire department. I knew it was a possibility he was one of them.”

Tragically, Jordan had been shot multiple times. He passed away five days later.

“You kind of question your belief and ask God, ‘Why was my son taken?’” he admitted. “But then, that is beyond me… It happened, it is life, other people lose kids as well, and I feel their grief. It is out of my hands. I pray about it.”

Hearing about the arrest of a suspect in Jordan’s case brought a sense of relief.

“I took a deep breath and said, ‘Man, I am glad to hear they found the killer,’” Melton recalled. “When they showed pictures of Jordan, it made me tear up. But it eased the tension a little because you think about the process every day—will they find the person who did it?”

While the pain of Jordan’s absence is still fresh, Melton holds on to the memories of his son, including childhood moments that hinted at his passion for fire.

“He liked to kind-of play with fire,” Melton laughed. “One time, he shot a bottle rocket that landed in the neighbor’s yard and set it on fire. I had to run out and help him put it out.”

On Friday, the Birmingham Fire Department will welcome a new class of recruits. Among them, one firefighter will receive the Jordan E. Melton Leadership Award, a tribute to his dedication and service.

If he could speak to his son today, Melton knows exactly what he would say. “You turned out to be a good young man, Jordan, and I’m very proud of you,” he said. “I think about it often, and I miss that young man. I really do.”

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