By james art A suspect has pleaded guilty in the 2023 shooting death of a man in the parking lot of a South Birmingham apartment complex.
Samuel Edward Wiggins IV, 27, was initially charged with capital murder in the killing of 29-year-old Thomas Bostany.
On Monday, Wiggins pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of murder.
Jefferson County Circuit Judge Michael Streety set Wiggins’ sentencing for Jan. 6.
Bostani’s family said he was shot 13 times while sitting in his car.
“The wheels of justice are very slow, but this time justice has been served,” said the victim’s mother, Connie Bostany.
A man was found shot to death inside a vehicle on Penthouse Drive in south Birmingham on September 30, 2023.
Officers with the city’s South Precinct responded at 4:12 p.m. on Saturday, September 30, 2023, to a report of a person in the 1000 block of Penthouse Drive, which is Mountainside Apartments.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found Bostany unresponsive in a vehicle. Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service pronounced him dead at the scene.
Wiggins was taken into custody at the apartment complex.
Samuel Edward Wiggins IV(Jefferson County Jail)
Bostany graduated from Spain Park High School and then UAB, where he earned a degree in mechanical engineering. He also worked as a graduate assistant at UAB for more than two years, according to his obituary.
He was a full-time research and development technician at voestalpine Railway Systems Nortrak and worked with company-wide R&D engineers in North America and Austria in support of North American railway systems.
“Tommy was passionate about most things in life and always strived for excellence in everything he did,” his obituary read. “Tommy was a Boy Scout, reached the rank of Eagle.”
“He was an accomplished athlete and outdoorsman extraordinaire. You can find it outdoors, fishing, boating, climbing, snowboarding, skateboarding and camping. Tommy was passionate about wrestling,” the obituary said.
“During his 4-year wrestling career at Spain Park HS, Tommy was a State Wrestling Championship finalist and placed each of his four years. In addition, Tommy continues to hold the Spain Park school records from the 2011-2012 season for most wins (189), most RBIs (92) and most technical falls (20). Tommy was recruited and signed to wrestle for the University of Maryland.