A Birmingham teen has been charged with capital murder in the shooting death of a 78-year-old east Birmingham man.

Police on Friday announced the arrest of 18-year-old Eric Kindred. He is charged in the Aug. 29 slaying of 78-year-old Louis “Louie” Zicarelli.

Louis Zicarelli

Zicarelli was shot to death that Thursday night when he opened the front door of his home on Ninth Court Circle South. It was about 9:30 p.m. when he heard the knock and responded.

When police responded to the 911 call, they found Zicarelli unresponsive just inside his home. His wife was also home at the time, but was not injured.

Kindred lived in the same neighborhood of Zicarelli’s, who had owned the home for decades. Police said the teen is responsible for a burglary at the home earlier in the day and the theft of Zicarelli’s black Ford Fusion.

He was taken into custody Thursday afternoon. Police said Kindred had been involved in a chase with Vestavia HIlls police on Wednesday night.

According to Vestavia HIlls police, officers spotted the vehicle traveling on U.S. 31 in the predawn hours. When they tried to pull it over for not having a tag, a chase ensued. The chase ended in a crash on U.S. 31 at Mayfair Drive in Homewood, but Kindred fled after wrecking the stolen car. When officers ran the VIN number, they learned the car had been stolen during a murder and Birmingham investigators were summoned to the scene.

Authorities said they can’t say how they linked Kindred to the stolen vehicle. He will be held without bond in the Jefferson County Jail.

Zicarelli retired from Bruno’s, where he worked in management for many years, according to his obituary. "He was a wonderful and devoted husband, father, and grandfather and was very much loved. He was a longtime member of St. Barnabas Catholic Church and a member of the Knights of Columbus,'' the obituary reads. “He especially enjoyed going around and visiting with his many friends. Louie NEVER met a stranger, only people he “didn’t know yet”! Louie will truly be missed by everyone.”