Rogers McCloud Jr, boyfriend and baby daddy of ASU student and dancer Gennia Grimes has been arrested in her death case
On Friday, investigators charged a man with capital murder in connection with the shooting death of a 21-year-old Atlanta student Gennia Grimes at Alabama State University.
Who is Rogers McCloud Jr, boyfriend and baby daddy of ASU law student and dancer Gennia Grimes who shot her dead
Rogers McCloud, Jr., 20, was taken into custody by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office in connection with the shooting death of Gennia Grimes, 21. Authorities said there were conflicting stories about what happened from McCloud, who was in the vehicle with his girlfriend Grimes at the time of the shooting.
Grimes was studying criminal justice at ASU and was also a member of ASU’s Honey Beez dance team.
Rogers McCloud remains in the Montgomery County Detention Facility without bond. When the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting complaint on Highway 80 East in the Waugh neighbourhood of Pike Road on March 27, the investigation officially began.
The young woman Gennia Grimes was evacuated to a hospital in severe condition after receiving treatment from medical personnel on the site. She passed away shortly after.
On Thursday, March 27, 2025, Gennia Grimes who was just 21 was killed by her boyfriend. She was a dedicated mother of a nine month old baby, a bright student at Alabama State University and wanted to become a lawyer. She was also a talented dancer and was the youngest in her family.
Her boyfriend and the father of her child, age 20 Rogers McCloud Jr. was arrested on capital murder charges and is currently in the Montgomery County Detention Facility on no bond.
“This case involves domestic violence where a young innocent woman was murdered at the hands of her boyfriend,” said MCSO Asst. Chief Wesley Richerson.
Assistant Chief Wesley Richerson said, “To protect the integrity of the case, we have not publicly discussed the details of this investigation. However, please do not confuse our silence with inaction. We have been meticulously working to gather evidence and to determine the facts surrounding Gennia’s death. Sheriff’s Office Investigators, Crime Scene Technicians, and Criminal Analyst have worked diligently over the past week to ensure the truth was exposed, and the suspect was arrested for this terrible crime.”
Proctor McCloud was the father of Grimes’ infant son, Rogers McCloud III, who was born last year, according to family members who spoke to FOX 5’s Aungelique. After his birth, she returned to school and was set to graduate from Alabama State with a degree in August 2025.
Grimes graduated from SW Atlanta’s Mays High School in 2021. During her time at Mays, she appeared on Access Hollywood and had a dance video go viral. “Strawberry” and “Purple doll” were the names of her dancing stages. Grimes thought she would become famous someday because of her amazing dancing skills.
The motive behind the murder was not disclosed by the sheriff’s office. “My daughter did not deserve to die,” Gennia’s mother said to Aungelique Proctor of FOX 5. Everyone who knew my kid knew she was a superstar. She was going to be famous because she knew she was a celebrity. She was aware of that.
To cover the cost of her funeral, the Grimes family has set up a GoFundMe page.