Police say evidence points to an apparent murder-suicide; toddler unharmed.
HOOVER, AL — Former WBRC sports reporter Christina Chambers was found dead Tuesday morning inside a Hoover home alongside her husband, according to police and her former station. Officers said evidence at the scene indicates an apparent murder-suicide. A 3-year-old child was found inside the home but was not hurt.
Chambers, a familiar face on high school football sidelines and marathon coverage in Birmingham, worked at WBRC from 2015 to 2021 and continued to freelance this fall. She also advised student broadcasters in Alabaster in recent years. Hoover police said their investigation is ongoing and that there is no threat to the public. News of her death drew swift tributes from colleagues and former students, underscoring her impact on local sports coverage and classroom newsrooms.
Police said a family member discovered a man and woman unresponsive around 9:03 a.m. Tuesday in the 700 block of Highland Manor Court, a neighborhood off South Shades Crest Road. Responding officers and fire-medics found both adults with gunshot wounds and pronounced them dead at the scene. Detectives said early evidence indicates the deaths were the result of a murder-suicide. Authorities did not announce arrests and said their initial review does not suggest a broader danger in the area. “We extend our condolences to the families involved,” a police spokesperson said, noting the child in the home was not physically injured.
WBRC confirmed Chambers as one of the victims and shared statements from newsroom leaders and coworkers describing her as a quick study on a beat that stretched from high school rivalries to college football storylines. Colleagues recalled that she often split time between reporting and competing, helping anchor coverage of Birmingham’s Mercedes Marathon while training as a distance runner. Friends in local media highlighted her most recent work freelancing on the station’s Friday night “Sideline” broadcasts. Police said investigators are gathering statements from relatives and neighbors and reviewing evidence from inside the residence. They did not release a motive. Officials said the 3-year-old found in the house was evaluated by medics; authorities did not immediately provide details about temporary care arrangements.
Chambers’ career took her from early roles in Columbus, Ga., and Montgomery, Ala., to a prominent spot on Birmingham television. She covered Auburn athletics for a regional sports network before joining WBRC, where she became a regular on prep football coverage and feature reporting. After leaving full-time broadcasting in 2021, she worked with students in Alabaster, advising a high school broadcast program that earned awards in state competitions. Former students credited her with pushing them to verify facts, sharpen scripts and treat interview subjects with respect, lessons they said translated into college admissions and first newsroom jobs.
Hoover police said detectives will continue processing the home, interviewing witnesses and consulting with the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office on autopsies to determine official causes and manner of death. The department said it would release additional information when next of kin notifications and forensic reviews are complete. A police briefing time had not been set Tuesday evening. WBRC said it would share memorial details from the family once finalized. No court filings related to the case appeared in public records as of late Tuesday, and police did not announce any search for suspects.
Outside the quiet cul-de-sac Tuesday, neighbors described a morning of sirens and a heavy police presence that blocked the street for hours as detectives moved in and out of the brick home. Former coworkers stopped by the station to console one another. “She was relentless about the work and even more about people,” anchor Jeh Jeh Pruitt said. A longtime producer recalled her knack for turning Friday highlights under deadline pressure. A teacher who worked alongside her in Alabaster said students were already planning a small gathering to remember her, leaving notes and team colors on a classroom door.
As of late Tuesday, Hoover police said their investigation remained active with no additional public updates. The coroner’s office will release final findings after autopsies. Memorial plans were pending, and colleagues said they expect stations and local schools to coordinate tributes in the coming days.
Author note: Last updated December 17, 2025.