For Immediate Release:
February 5, 2026
For press inquiries only, contact:
Amanda Priest (334) 322-5694
William Califf (334) 604-3230
(Montgomery, Ala) – Attorney General Steve Marshall announced the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the conviction of Clinton Tyrone Ruffin, 41, of Birmingham, for provocation manslaughter. Ruffin was convicted in the Jefferson County Circuit Court on June 14, 2024.
The evidence at trial showed that on December 22, 2022, a fight erupted at a residence in Jefferson County that was instigated by an intoxicated family member. Clinton Ruffin went to the scene of the disturbance and was approached by the intoxicated family member who struck Ruffin’s car with his fist. Ruffin proceeded to shoot the family member numerous times, and the victim was pronounced dead as a result of the gunshot wounds. Ruffin claimed self-defense at trial and claimed that he felt threatened by the victim when he arrived on the scene of the altercation. The jury acquitted Ruffin of murder but found him guilty of the lesser-included offense of provocation manslaughter.
Jefferson County District Attorney Danny Carr’s office successfully prosecuted this case and obtained a guilty verdict. Ruffin was sentenced to 15 years in prison for his provocation manslaughter conviction. Ruffin sought to have his conviction reversed on appeal.
The Attorney General’s Criminal Appeals Division handled the case during the appeals process, arguing for the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals to affirm Ruffin’s conviction. The Court did so in a decision issued Friday, January 30, 2026.
Attorney General Marshall commended Assistant Attorney General Marc Starrett for his successful work on this case and thanked District Attorney Danny Carr and his staff for their valuable assistance in defending the provocation manslaughter conviction.
-30-