A Birmingham teen has been indicted in last year’s slaying of a 78-year-old man inside his east Birmingham home.

A Jefferson County grand jury on March 6 issued indictments against 19-year-old Eric Kindred for capital murder, burglary and theft of property, according to court records made public Friday. He is charged in the Aug. 29, 2019 shooting death of Louis “Louie” Zicarelli.

Kindred has been in the Jefferson County Jail since Sept. 13. Initially his bond was set at $450,000 but he is now being held without bond.

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 as Zicarelli, 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.

Kindred was taken into custody Sept. 13. The previous night, police said, Kindred had been involved in a chase with Vestavia Hills police. 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.

Louis Zicarelli

Authorities said they can’t say how they linked Kindred to the stolen vehicle.

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 read. “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.”

A trial date has not been set.