2018 Birmingham homicides

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Map of Birmingham homicides in 2018

This is a List of Birmingham homicides in 2018. It includes homicide cases occurring within the city limits during the calendar year. Note that a "homicide" refers to the cause of death as determined by a medical examiner, not to the commission of the crime of murder as charged by police and prosecutors.

110 homicides were reported in the city during the year. Based on the 2018 census estimate of 209,880 population, that represents a homicide rate of 52.4 homicides per 100,000 residents. Birmingham had 117 homicides in 2017. The recent record low of 63 homicides was set in 2014, and the recent record high was 141 in 1992.

The city averaged 9.17 homicides per month, or one every 3.32 days. There were 7 incidents in January, 12 in February, 13 in March, 8 in April, 4 in May, 11 in June, 12 in July, 11 in August, 9 in September, 9 in October, 5 in November and 8 in December. The longest stretch without a homicide was the 15-day span between May 16 and June 1. 18 deaths were reported on Sundays, 19 on Mondays, 13 on Tuesdays, 15 on Wednesdays, 12 on Thursdays, 13 on Fridays, and 20 on Saturdays.

Eight of the reported homicides were ruled justifiable as self-defense by investigators or prosecutors. In one of those cases murder charges were filed against an accomplice of the victim. Five other cases resulted from reckless driving. The police department therefore acknowledges 97 chargeable homicides, eight of which were charged as manslaughter, one as reckless murder and the rest as felony or capital murder. Suspects have been identified in 53 cases, apprehended in 53, and charged in 48. Convictions have been obtained in 10 deaths, with 7 of those involving reduced charges. Two prosecutions resulted in acquittals. Charges in three other cases were dismissed, with one of those later pleaded down. Two suspects killed themselves before facing prosecution.

88 deaths resulted from shootings, 7 from stabbing, five from reckless driving, one by intentionally running someone over, 1 from an intentional fire, and 9 from unspecified causes. 39 incidents occurred on the streets, two at public parks, 38 at private homes, one at a school, 18 at businesses, and 10 at apartment complexes. 54 were reported in the West Precinct, 18 in the East Precinct, 15 in the South Precinct and 22 in the North Precinct. Three deaths resulted from self-defense, 9 from robbery, 7 from domestic incidents, 8 from sudden arguments, 21 over ongoing disputes, two from stray bullets, five from reckless driving, and the motive is unknown in 54 other deaths. One death is believed to have been the result of gang-related violence.

89 victims were male, 18 were female, and one was an unborn fetus. The Birmingham Police Department released the following statistics in early October, at which time they counted 79 criminal homicides: 70 were African American, 8 were white, and 1 was Latin American. 52 victims had criminal records and only seven were employed. Fifty-six victims were believed to be acquainted with their killers, including six who were romantically involved. Six victims were considered innocent bystanders. In late December the department reported 51 of 107 homicides still unsolved, for a 48.6% clearance rate.

Listing by date

  1. January 3: Elie Jameel Miller, 18, was shot to death at the King City Food Mart on Warrior Road and Avenue P in Belview Heights (map) Investigators determined that he and his twin brother Kenneth had attempted to steal a car with a female passenger inside and were confronted by the owner, who shot at them during a struggle. The shooter was not charged. Kenneth Miller was charged with felony murder as an accomplice in a crime that resulted in a homicide. (report)
  2. January 6: DeQuinton Danner, 25, was shot to death while driving his girlfriend's car on the 300 block of Robison Drive in Roebuck (map). No arrest. (report)
  3. January 11: Felicia Antoinette Fletcher, 31, was found shot to death in an apparent murder-suicide inside an apartment at Tom Brown Village housing project in North Avondale (map). Lee Otis Farrow Hamilton, 28, is believed to have killed her before shooting himself. (report)
  4. January 15: Eric Cotton, 28, was shot to death inside a home at 3633 45th Avenue North in Harriman Park (map). His friend, Luther Gray, had been hanging out and drinking before he suddenly pulled two guns and began firing. A woman escaped the house unharmed. Gray pursued her and broke into a neighbor's house and fired more rounds without further injury. He was arrested nearby by police responding to the sound of gunfire and later charged with murder, assault and burglary. Gray was convicted at trial in June 2019 and given a life sentence by Judge Clyde Jones for Cotton's murder, as well as a consecutive 20 years for burglary and attempted murder. His sentence was upheld by the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals in October 2020. (report)
  5. January 15: Gregory Walker, 61, was shot to death on the 4700 block of Carver Avenue Southwest in Hillman map). He was killed during a confrontation over an earlier hit-and-run collision. The shooter surrendered to police for questioning, but no charges were filed because it was determined he fired in self-defense. (report)
  6. January 18: James Chapman, 19, was shot to death after pulling a gun during an altercation in a house on the 200 block of Tucker Avenue in Roebuck map). After an investigation, prosecutors determined the shooting was self-defense and did not file criminal charges. (report)
  7. January 30: Sheldon "Tron" Watkins, 26, was assaulted and shot to death at the Chevron gas station at 1800 31st Street Southwest in Jones Valley (map). He and his assailant had been involved in an ongoing jealous dispute. The shooter, Bobby Eugene Cox, initially fled the scene, but later turned himself in to police and was charged with murder. (report)
  8. February 2: Ricky Parker, 58, was found shot to death in the back yard of his home on the 1000 block of 46th Street Ensley in Belview Heights (map). No arrest. (report)
  9. February 2: Michael Lee, 17, was wounded in a shootout between two cars at McAlpine Park on the 1100 block of Avenue F in Ensley (map). Both vehicles fled and Lee was found later in Fairfield. The incident appears to have begun as an online dispute. Faith Jakia Martin was indicted in June on a charge of manslaughter. Tremon Demarco Flemming, Antonio Wydaron Wagner and Erion Markese Johnson were arrested and charged with manslaughter in July. (report)
  10. February 3: Davon Everson, 22, was fatally wounded in a shootout between cars on the 2000 block of 28th Street in Ensley Highlands (map). He was found behind the wheel of his car in the bushes at Fairview Park nearby. Either he or a passenger in his car may have been targeted in retaliation for an earlier shooting. No arrest. (report)
  11. February 4: Rickey Smith, 61, was found shot to death behind the Western Mental Health Center at 1701 Avenue D in Ensley (map). No arrest. (report)
  12. February 9: Dietrich "Dede" Boone, 20, was stabbed to death, and also shot, in the back yard of a home on the 8400 block of 9th Avenue South in South East Lake (map). The two had argued over a woman. Arron Jamal Gaines turned himself in to police the same day, and was charged with murder. (report)
  13. February 11: Reginald Brown, 50, was shot to death during an argument outside the Omar Discount Store at 1531 12th Court North in Fountain Heights (map). No arrest. Misty Lynn Wright, who is believed to have been in company with the victim, is sought for questioning as a potential witness. (report)
  14. February 12: Ty Alexander Pepper, 19, was shot to death in an assault on 12th Avenue North in Fountain Heights (map). The shooter fled the scene. No arrest. (report)
  15. February 12: Elizabeth Annette Price, 18, Pepper's girlfriend, was killed in the same assault.
  16. February 20: Darrel Keith Daniels, 46, a transient, was found dead behind the Chevron station on the 1300 block of Bessemer Road in Central Park (map). He was stabbed in the leg during an argument with another man and bled out. A suspect was taken into custody, but has not yet been charged. (report)
  17. February 21: Eric Anthony Roney, 51, was fatally wounded by a stray bullet during a car-to-car shootout on the 800 block of 4th Avenue West in Bush Hills (map). No arrest. (report)
  18. February 24: Monty Lewayne Davis, 29, was found dead from a gunshot wound and set on fire alongside the 300 block of Mulga Loop Road near Minor. Witnesses heard Davis argue with Rajuar Akeil Key about a marijuana theft before Key shot him in the head at a home on Eufaula Avenue in Birmingham's Fairview neighborhood. Key surrendered to authorities in August and was initially charged with intentional murder. He was indicted by a grand jury in November. (report)
  19. February 27: Curlie Jamal Burns, 22, was found shot to death on the side of the 2900 block of S. J. Bennett Drive in Industrial Center (map). No arrest. (report)
  20. March 5: Clifford Devon Harris, 29, was shot to death during an ambush at his home in the Alameda Terrace Apartments at 1750 Alameda Court Southwest in West End Manor (map). No arrest. (report)
  21. March 7: Courtlin Arrington, 17, died from a gunshot wound suffered during an after-school shooting at Huffman High School (map). The incident was at first characterized as accidental, but after investigating further, classmate Michael Jerome Barber was charged with reckless manslaughter. He was convicted of the lesser charge of misdemeanor criminally-negligent homicide at trial before Judge Clyde Jones in June 2019. He was sentenced to serve 12 months in prison. Arrington's mother also filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Birmingham City Schools superintendent Lisa Herring and Huffman High School principal Douglas Lyons. (report)
  22. March 12: Jacari Maddox, 18, was found shot to death in the bushes at Oakmont Street and Slayden Avenue in Sherman Heights (map). No arrest. (report)
  23. March 14: Nancy Swift, 63, a nursing supervisor, was shot to death by a staff member, and a second person injured during an incident on the second floor of UAB Highlands hospital at 1201 11th Avenue South in Five Points South (map). The shooter killed himself at the scene. (report)
  24. March 17: Minnie Gray Brown (or Young), 57, was found dead in an unrented room at the America's Best Inn on Messer Airport Highway. Her death was later ruled a homicide by strangulation. Jeffery Smith was arrested in August 2019 and indicted for murder in March 2020. (report)
  25. March 19: Jamaal Grimes, 29, died at UAB Hospital from gunshot wounds suffered the previous night in a home at 2501 29th Street Ensley in Fairview (map). Deion Malik Sanford was arrested in May and charged with murder. He pleaded not guilty by reason of self-defense and was acquitted at trial in 2021. (report)
  26. March 20: Remus Kevin Scalf, 46, was shot to death in an apparent robbery while doing remodeling work at a home at 1501 45th Street Ensley in Belview Heights (map). Another man was injured. No arrest. (report)
  27. March 23: Garry Lynn Logan, 29, was found shot to death in a grassy area at the Central Gardens Apartments on the 2300 block of South Park Drive in Central Park (map). His cousins Thavion and Travis Chanvez Vanhorn were indicted for his murder in July. They pleaded guilty before Judge Michael Streety in January 2019 and were sentenced to 30 and 20 years, respectively. (report)
  28. March 29: Richard Stephen Roberts, 23, died at UAB Hospital from gunshot wounds suffered while he was working on a car on the 1800 block of Francis Avenue Southwest in West End Manor (map). No arrest. (report)
  29. March 30: Gilbert George Morgan II, 28, was found dead inside his home on the 1400 block of Indiana Street in Wylam (map). No arrest. (report)
  30. March 31: Daisy Lee Bell, 62, died after being struck by a car while sitting on her porch near the intersection of Pearson Avenue and 31st Street Southwest in Germania Park (map). The driver, Eddie King, was arrested at the scene and later subjected to a blood test which showed a blood alcohol level of .233. He was initially charged with manslaughter, but the case was bound over to a grand jury in January 2019. He pleaded guilty to reckless manslaughter and and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. (report)
  31. March 31: Al Jamard Frank, 35, died at UAB Hospital from gunshot wounds suffered in the parking lot outside his home at the Centenniel Villa Apartments at 1430 Fred L. Shuttleworth Drive in Collegeville (map). Dennis Powell was arrested and charged with murder. (report)
  32. March 31: Rodriguez Shuford, 31, died at UAB Hospital from gunshot wounds suffered outside a home he was visiting at 3725 27th Street North in North Birmingham (map). Deaundre Cain was arrested a few days later and charged with reckless manslaughter. (report)
  33. April 1: Derrick Mason, 37, was shot to death during an argument on the 7500 block of 64th Courtway South in the Marks Village housing project in Gate City (map). No arrest. (report)
  34. April 2: Demetrius Montez Smith, 24, was shot to death while riding in a car on the 4500 block of Grasselli Boulevard in Grasselli Heights (map). Tyrell Rashad Nichols was arrested in late April and charged with capital murder and two counts of attempting to elude police. (report)
  35. April 6: An unborn child died in the womb from injuries sustained by its mother in a shooting at 916 1st Street North in the Smithfield Court public housing project in Smithfield (map). The determination of its cause of death was made by the Jefferson County Coronor's Office on April 9. Avery Turner was charged with capital murder and turned himself in to police. (report)
  36. April 9: Paul Louis Thomas, 56, was struck and killed by a vehicle on Avenue I and 54th Street in the Vinesville section of Belview Heights (map). The vehicle left the scene. No arrest. (report)
  37. April 22: Darien Haslip, 24, was shot to death inside a home at 1412 36th Street North in Norwood (map). No arrest. (report)
  38. April 25: Nyteria Spigner, 17, died at UAB Hospital from a wound to the head caused by a stray bullet fired during a dispute outside the Inglenook Park Recreation Center at 4016 37th Avenue North in Inglenook (map). One suspect was taken into custody but released after further investigation. (report)
  39. April 27: Michael Steven Matthew, 47, was found in the trunk of his Dodge Avenger, left in a parking lot on the 1000 block of 35th Street Ensley in Ensley Highlands (map). He had last been seen alive in early April. No arrest. (report)
  40. April 30: Cornelious Lamar Tolbert, 31, was pronounced dead at Princeton Baptist Medical Center after being wounded by gunshot in a fight near the intersection of 40th Street Ensley and Court K in Belview Heights (map). No arrest. (report)
  41. May 12: I'akyria Rukell Kimbrough, 18, was struck and killed while standing along I-59/20 near Center Street in East Thomas after a breakdown. The driver, Lawrence Moore Jr, left the scene after hitting her, but later turned himself in at Birmingham Police Headquarters. He was charged with leaving the scene of an accident with injury or death. (report)
  42. May 14: Justin Kyle Lett, 28, last seen early Sunday morning at Marty's PM, was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds on Appalachee Alley near 11th Avenue North in North Avondale (map). In November 2020 Cameron Jamar Cook, awaiting trial for the murder Denise Fassel in August 2018, was also charged capital murder in Lett's death. He was indicted on that charge in January 2021. Cook pleaded guilty to both murders in Judge Shanta Craig Owens' court in September 2022 and was given multiple life sentences without parole. (report)
  43. May 16: Derry S. Anderson, 55, of Ohio, was found dead in the cab of his semi-trailer truck parked at the Citgo at 1101 Bankhead Highway in Thomas (map). He was killed during an apparent robbery. Rodrakius Gray and Sheena Dixon were arrested later that month and charged with capital murder. (report)
  44. May 16: Juan Williams, 39, was found dead at his home on the 700 block of Albany Street in Wylam. (map). The coroner later ruled his death a homicide. No arrest. (report)
  45. June 1: Patrick Ladale Maxey, 47, was found shot to death inside his home on the 1900 block of Princeton Avenue in Oakwood Place (map). No arrest. (report)
  46. June 6: Robert Christopher Lewis, 37, was shot to death on the the 1400 block of Gulfport Street in Wylam (map). Isiah James Reeves was arrested in September and charged with murder. The charges against him were dismissed at trial due in August 2019. (report)
  47. June 11: Antonio Jerrell Taylor, 28, died at UAB Hospital from wounds he received in a shooting outside the Shell Food Mart at 800 3rd Avenue West in Bush Hills (map). Keegan Dixie, an acquaintance of Taylor's who was present, was indicted in July on a charge of intentional murder. He was convicted on the lesser charge of reckless manslaughter and sentenced to 15 years in prison. (report)
  48. June 12: Lorenzo Oden, 30, was shot to death in an apartment on the 6700 block of Joppa Avenue in the Marks Village housing community in Gate City (map). No arrest. (report)
  49. June 18: DeNorris Rishard Barnes, 30, was shot and killed while changing a tire at Gas Land No. 2 station at 1800 Bessemer Road in Central Park (map). The shooter fled in a gold-colored Buick. No arrest. (report)
  50. June 18: Tiffany Cooper, 35, was shot to death during an argument at her mother's home on the 1200 block of 16th Place Southwest in West End Manor (map). The mother, Angela Cooper, was arrested and charged with reckless manslaughter. The charges were bound over to a grand jury in October. (report)
  51. June 20: Silas Partman, 23, was killed in a shootout at an apartment unit on the 2300 block of Aspen Run in The Park at Callington Apartments off Robert Jemison Road in Woodland Park (map). Another person was seriously wounded. No arrest. (report)
  52. June 22: Decorian Taylor, 22, was found shot to death in the street at 28th Street Southwest and Francis Avenue Southwest in Jones Valley (map). No arrest. (report)
  53. June 22: Warren Whitted, 36, was found dead in the driveway of Brewer Machine Inc. at 5445 Park Avenue Southwest in West Brownville (map). No arrest. (report)
  54. June 23: Kijuan Harrell, 20, was shot while riding in a car on Valley Avenue in Glen Iris. The car was found on the western end of Fox Valley Apartments. No arrest. (report)
  55. June 27: Terrall Thurman, 62, was found dead in his apartment at 1708 14th Avenue South in Five Points South (map). His car was found packed with kindling and set ablaze in Leeds. No arrest. (report)
  56. July 3: Terry Ledaye Mitchell, 38, was shot to death in the doorway of his home on the 100 block of Avenue V in Central Pratt (map). Investigators determined that the shooting culminated a heated argument. Deron Marques Belser was arrested a week later and charged with manslaughter. Judge Clyde Jones dismissed the charge "without prejudice" during a preliminary hearing, saying that prosecutors lacked sufficient evidence to go to trial. Belser later accepted a plea agreement to manslaughter and was given a 20-year split sentence with a minimum of 5 years to serve. (report)
  57. July 7: Spencer Burch, 63, died at UAB Hospital from wounds suffered when he was shot while driving a van on the 100 block of Oporto-Madrid Boulevard South in Roebuck-South East Lake (map) two days earlier. Dejuan Hall was arrested and charged with capital murder. (report)
  58. July 8: Arrielle Lashawn Parker-Jefferies, 16, died at Children's Hospital from wounds suffered when she was shot while riding in a car on the 200 block of Westwood Drive in Roebuck (map). Parker-Jefferies was the niece of DeNorris Barnes, who was murdered on June 18 in Central Park. (report)
  59. July 12: David James Gourley, 48, died at UAB Hospital from gunshot wounds suffered in the early morning hours on July 1 at his front door on the 8300 block of 7th Terrace South in South East Lake. (map). No arrest. (report)
  60. July 12: Melvin Johnson, 32, was shot to death at the Southtown Court housing community on the 900 block of 23rd Street South in Southside (map). Yendor Smith was arrested in August and charged with intentional murder. The charge was bound over to a grand jury to consider indictment. (report)
  61. July 13: Demetris Michael Crayton, 35, died at Miller County Hospital in Colquitt, Georgia from gunshot wounds suffered in a February 22 shooting on the 800 block of Center Place West in Hooper City (map). Tyrin Clark was arrested and initially charged with attempted murder. After Crayton died, a grand jury indicted him for murder. (report)
  62. July 17: Dakisha Michelle Stutson, 40, was shot to death in the Acipco Cottages at 1625 25th Court North in Acipco-Finley (map). Her boyfriend and son were also wounded. The victim's brother, Clifford Stutson, was taken into custody when he was found asleep behind the wheel at a nearby traffic stop. He was charged with murder and attempted murder. Those charged were affirmed by a grand jury indictment in March 2019. (report)
  63. July 21: La'Warron Cortez Phillips, 22, was killed when his car was struck by another vehicle that sped through a red light on the 1900 block of Bessemer Road in Central Park (map). The driver, Marlon Antonio Rogers, may have been fleeing the scene of another shooting. He was charged with reckless manslaughter in Phillips' death. (report)
  64. July 22: Deangelo Lumpkin, 29, died from a gunshot wound to the chest suffered at 40 5th Court South in North Titusville (map). Deonte Anton Porch was arrested a week later and charged with murder. (report)
  65. July 24: An unnamed male died at UAB Hospital from a wound suffered in a drive-by shooting at the Wages Event Center at 2728 Pearson Avenue Southwest in Germania Park (map). No arrest. (report)
  66. July 29: Herman Gordon Jr, 18, was found dead in his car at 1st Avenue North and Carraway Boulevard. He had apparently been shot while driving on the Elton B. Stephens Expressway. No arrest. (report)
  67. July 29: Brian Hill, 43, was found dead from gunshot wounds in a car found on the 400 block of Avenue W in Central Pratt (map). No arrest. (report)
  68. August 2: Gregory C. Hrabowski, 63, died at UAB Hospital from a gunshot wound suffered on his porch at 981 52nd Place North, near Messer Airport Highway in Woodlawn (map). No arrest. (report)
  69. August 2: Joe "Steve" Holt, 68, and his wife were found stabbed to death at their home on the 8700 block of 9th Court Circle South in Roebuck-South East Lake (map). Their 3-year-old granddaughter went to a neighbor's house with blood on her clothes and led police to the scene. Their car, which was taken the same day, was recovered in Miami Beach, Florida. The driver, Kristen Gullion, was arrested on an outstanding warrant. Another person, Zachary Phillips, who stayed with Gullion at a former halfway house across the street from the Holts, was arrested while fleeing a traffic stop in Hollywood, Florida. Both were held on unrelated charges before capital murder charges were added a few days later. (report)
  70. August 2: Mary Holt, 67, was found dead in the same home.
  71. August 4: Brandon Lewis, 30, died at UAB Hospital from a gunshot wound suffered during an argument the previous night about a car on the 1600 block of 13th Avenue North in Fountain Heights. Eric Lamont Harrison was arrested in September and charged with capital murder. He was convicted at trial in January 2022, and sentenced to life in prison without parole. (report)
  72. August 4: LaDaniel O'Neal Willis, 22, a temporary worker, was stabbed to death in an argument in the break room at Birmingham Wholesale Furniture at 2200 2nd Avenue South (map). Wesley Dewayne Conor, who had been working there as a temp, was charged with his murder. His November 2019 trial before Judge Clyde Jones ended in mistrial with a deadlocked jury. He was convicted at retrial before Judge Clyde Jones in January 2020. (report)
  73. August 4: Sikeisha Mitchell, 36, was shot to death during a domestic dispute at an apartment on the 900 block of 23rd Street South in the Southtown Court community of Southside (map). Her boyfriend, Anthony Needham, was charged with murder and formally indicted on April 5, 2019. His bond was revoked when he was charged in connection with another homicide in 2019. In February 2020 Needham pleaded guilty to reckless manslaughter in Mitchell's death and to murder in the other case and was given a 25-year sentence. (report)
  74. August 11: Brian Jerome Morgan, 38, was killed when he was struck by a vehicle on the 2300 block of Green Springs Highway in Glen Iris (map). The driver left the scene. No arrest. (report)
  75. August 12: Denise Fassel, 55, was shot to death at her home at 2012 Avenue J in Ensley (map). Cameron Jamer Cook was caught on surveillance camera attempting to steal a car nearby, band was arrested at the Sky Inn on 1st Avenue North in Woodlawn the next day. He was subsequently charged with capital murder. That charge was affirmed by a grand jury in February 2019. (report)
  76. August 18: Deontre Gernond Turner, 25, was found shot to death in a vehicle which crashed near Pike Road and Court N in Ensley Highlands (map). No arrest. (report)
  77. August 18: Lillian Winn, 86, died in a hospital from injuries suffered during a violent robbery at her home at 522 25th Street North in the Park Place Apartments in the Central City neighborhood. No arrest. (report)
  78. August 21: Miguel Mandujano-Garcia, 22, died at UAB Hospital from injuries suffered when he was struck by a black SUV after a verbal argument outside the Chevron at Green Springs Avenue and Green Springs Highway in Glen Iris (map). No arrest. (report)
  79. August 23: Quantis Mandel Samuels, 26, died at UAB Hospital from a gunshot wound suffered in a unit at the Benjamin Greene Village public housing community on the 6100 block of Warner Street in Roosevelt (map). Dwain Earl Daniel was arrested and charged with murder. (report)
  80. September 1: William "Big Will" Edwards, 16, captain of the Woodlawn High School Colonels football team, was killed by a bullet fired into his home at 331 80th Street North in North East Lake (map). Rodrick Hodges was arrested several days later and charged with capital murder. Judge Teresa Pulliam bound the case over to a grand jury, which returned an indictment for capital murder in January 2019. Hodges pleaded guilty to intentional murder and shooting into an occupied dwelling and was sentenced to 30 years, with credit for time served since his arrest.(report)
  81. September 1: Antonio Pettaway, 50, was stabbed to death his home at 2525 37th Avenue North in North Birmingham (map). His girlfriend, Kuterah Benita Rich, was taken into custody at the scene and charged with murder. She pleaded guilty to manslaughter before Judge Alaric May and was sentenced to 20 years in prison with a minimum of 5 years served. (report)
  82. September 5: Briana Young, 26, was pronounced dead at Princeton Baptist Medical Center after being shot while in a car at 10th Place and Avenue U in South Pratt (map). No arrest. (report)
  83. September 5: Brandon Lee Wilson, 30, was found shot to death behind the wheel of an SUV which crashed into a tree on the 5100 block of Jenkins Street in Roosevelt. No arrest. (report)
  84. September 5: Tarrell Antwone Watson, 24, was found dead behind the wheel of a car that crashed into a house on the 1200 block of Mitchell Street in North Pratt. No arrest. (report)
  85. September 5: Preston Lemar Robinson, 30, was found shot to death on the 1100 block of Meadow Lane in Green Acres. Antonio Moore had been arguing with him before the shooting. He was arrested and charged with murder. A grand jury returned a murder indictment on April 5, 2019. (report)
  86. September 8: Marqueze Green, 21, died at UAB Hospital from a gunshot wound to the back. Investigators believe he and another man who was injured were assaulted while they were sitting in a car on the 2300 block of Steiner Court Southwest in Germania Park. Terry Lee Skanes was arrested in December and charged with capital murder and attempted murder. The case against him was dismissed without prejudice in June 2021 because two eyewitnesses did not appear to testify for the prosecution. (report)
  87. September 18: Keith Mason Edwards, 42, was shot to death at the Citgo at 1557 Bessemer Road in Central Park. Leonard Earl Oden was arrested in October and charged with intentional murder. (report)
  88. September 25: Ladarrian Jamal Allen, 27, was found shot to death after an altercation on the 2000 block of 25th Street Ensley in the Ensley neighborhood. Kequan Martell Walker, who had been involved in an ongoing dispute with Allen, was arrested and charged with capital murder. He pleaded guilty to felony murder in Judge Stephen Wallace's court in April 2022 and was sentenced to 20 years in prison with 5 years to serve and 5 years probation. (report)
  89. October 2: Jerry Kennedy, 44, died at UAB Hospital from a gunshot wound suffered during an altercation at the Westside Tire Center at 1700 31st Street Southwest in Germania Park. Lee Roy McCullough was brought into custody by U.S. Marshals in Gould, Arkansas two weeks later. He pleaded not guilty by reason of self-defense in Judge Teresa Pulliam's court, and was acquitted. (report)
  90. October 7: Devin Darnell Crowell, 22, died at UAB Hospital from a gunshot wound suffered that morning at 917 50th Street North in Woodlawn. No arrest. (report)
  91. October 11: Skyler Lewis, 24, was shot to death and two others injured by gunfire at a house at 1839 18th Street in Ensley. Micayla Brooke Sloan was arrested in May 2019 and charged with murder. A grand jury indicted her on that charge in March 2020. De'Avion Javarrius Williams was also indicted on capital murder charges related to Lewis' death in April 2021. (report)
  92. October 14: Demetrius Antwan Davis Sr, 37, was shot to death outside of M & N Groceries at Pearson Avenue Southwest and 24th Street Southwest during morning services at nearby South Park Baptist Church in Germania Park. Surveillance video of the incident was released to the public, but the shooter has not been identified. No arrest. Davis' son, Demetrius Jr was shot to death, also at a gas station, in March 2023. (report)
  93. October 15: Kerry McClure, 22, died at UAB Hospital from gunshot wounds suffered the previous evening after he dropped his kids off at a house on the 200 block of 9th Court North in Smithfield. Talvin Willoughby is believed to have fired the fatal shots as he was driving away from an argument with McClure. He was arrested and charged with capital murder. The charge was affirmed by a grand jury in January 2019. (report)
  94. October 18: Christopher Rice, 29, died at UAB Hospital from gunshot wounds suffered the previous day on the 200 block of Avenue U near Carline Avenue in Central Pratt. Dominic Montgomery was arrested and charged with murder. (report)
  95. October 24: Douglas Donate White, 29, was fatally shot while driving on Oporto-Madrid Boulevard near Sunrise Drive in Eastwood. A suspect SUV fled the scene. No arrest. (report)
  96. October 27: Korey Carlisle, 27, was shot to death during an argument at the Goldwire Place Apartments on the 600 block of Goldwire Place in South Titusville. Ronald Williams Johnson was arrested and charged with murder. (report)
  97. October 27: Antonio Demond Sanders, 24, was shot to death as he opened fire on people in the McDonald's restaurant at 732 Lomb Avenue in Arlington-West End. Two others, including a minor, were injured. The father who returned fire, killing the gunman, is not expected to face charges. (report)
  98. November 5: Carl Dominick Beasley, 27, was shot to death, and another man injured, in an assault at 937 47th Place North in Woodlawn. A maroon Dodge Ram truck is sought in connection with the incident. No arrest. (report)
  99. November 11: Edward Tyurri Matthews, 29, died at UAB Hospital from gunshot wounds suffered in a shooting on I-59/20 in eastern Birmingham. Two vehicles exchanged fire on the northbound interstate. The SUV Matthews was riding in proceeded to the Shell station at Oporto-Madrid Boulevard and 5th Avenue North and he was taken by ambulance from there to UAB. The other suspect vehicle, a gray sedan, crashed nearby. The driver, Tavalues Andereus "Ty" Johnson, suffered a head injury. He was charged with capital murder, but died at UAB Hospital on November 22. Four occupants fled before police arrived at the scene. One of those, Patrick Dewayne Webb, was arrested on November 16 and charged with capital murder. Another passenger, Gabrielle Lashay Moore, was charged with discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling. (report)
  100. November 17: Eric Jermaine Jackson, 34, was found shot to death in the back of an SUV at The Hamilton Apartments on the 1900 block of Avenue O. He was brought there after being struck at the Smart Food Mart on the 900 block of 20th Street Ensley in Tuxedo. Corey Lamont Beckwood was convicted of capital murder and attempted murder in May 2023. He was sentenced in September by Judge Stephen Wallace to life in prison with the possibility of parole. (report)
  101. November 18: Rafael Cortez Robinson, 31, was found shot to death on the 1600 block of Fulton Avenue Southwest in Oakwood Place. No arrest. (report)
  102. November 22: Lyndell Miller, 22, was shot to death in a friend's apartment at 3191 42nd Avenue North in the North Birmingham Homes public housing community in Fairmont. The Jefferson County District Attorney ruled that the shooting was justifiable. (report)
  103. December 4: Roland Gilmore, 34, was found stabbed to death at an apartment on the 1800 block of 15th Avenue North in Fountain Heights. Lee Anthony Woodruff was arrested and charged with murder. The charge was affirmed by a grand jury in April 2019. (report)
  104. December 9: Perry Joe Lewis Jr, 39, was killed, and another man injured by gunfire, in a vehicle found on the 3300 block of Avenue H Ensley in the Ensley neighborhood. No arrest. (report)
  105. December 10: Venus Felicia Godhigh, 38, was shot to death while in a vehicle, and two others were injured by gunfire in a shooting on the 900 block of 2nd Street North in the Smithfield Court public housing community in Smithfield. No arrest. (report)
  106. December 15: Elizabeth Peterson, 64, known to friends as Liz Sutherland, was shot to death outside her apartment on the 2100 block of 17th Avenue South. No arrest. (report)
  107. December 20: Kirby Kermit Davis, 32, was found shot to death in a car parked on the 3000 block of Panorama East at the Panorama East Apartments in Apple Valley after a large gunfight stemming from an armed robbery. Samuel Bernard Smith was arrested on January 18 and charged with capital murder. The charge was dismissed by Judge Alaric May in April 2022 under the Alabama Stand Your Ground Law. (report)
  108. December 24: Adrian Deon Johnson, 39, was found dead at an auto detail shop at 617 12th Street Southwest in Arlington-West End after a party the night before. Investigators determined that the cause of death was homicide. No arrest. (report)
  109. December 24: Jerika Manuel, 28, was shot to death at the Piggly-Wiggly where she was working at 2500 29th Avenue North in North Birmingham. The suspect entered the store and began arguing with her before shooting and fleeing the scene. Sharonda Monique James, a former employee of the store, was charged with murder. She was arrested by U.S. Marshals in Chattanooga, Tennessee in February 2019. She pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of manslaughter in September 2022 and was given a 20-year sentence by Judge Alaric May. (report)
  110. December 27: Carley Eugene Vinson, 67, was found dead after a fire in a unit at the Plaza Square Apartments at 1600 20th Street South in Five Points South. His death was later ruled a homicide when evidence indicated the fire was intentionally set. John Edwin Burton, who is believed to have been involved in a dispute with Vinson, was arrested and charged with capital murder during arson and first-degree burglary. He was indicted on those charges by a grand jury in January 2020. (report)

Responses

Mayor Randall Woodfin and U.S. Attorney Jay Town led the formation of a task force to address violent crime in the area. Representatives of the Birmingham Police Department, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, the Shelby County Drug Task Force,. the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District, the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office, the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles, and several federal agencies. The group held its first meeting on April 13, 2018 in order to coordinate resources toward implementing the city's "Operation Step Up" program alongside the Department of Justice's "Project Safe Neighborhoods" and "National Public Safety Partnership". Among the strategies pushed by those programs is the idea of using shared information about repeat offenders to target "key offenders" in violent crime "hot spots" as the most effective means of reducing overall violent crime. Other priorities discussed by Woodfin included jobs programs and longer hours for neighborhood recreation centers.

The City of Birmingham provided $180,000 in grants to 24 community organizations to promote mentorship, character building and conflict resolution programs for Birmingham youth as part of an effort to reduce violence.

A Birmingham chapter of "Never Again", a student-led advocacy group which originated at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida after a mass shooting there was formed in the wake of Courtlin Arrington's death at Huffman High School. Birmingham students helped organize Birmingham's public demonstration for the 2018 March for Our Lives and 2018 National School Walkout. Superintendent of Birmingham City Schools Lisa Herring brought activists together into a "Student Advisory Committee" which hosted a town hall meeting at Parker High School in April to address gun violence.

Newly-installed police chief Patrick Smith instituted several changes aimed at reducing violence in the streets, including hiring more detectives to work homicide cases and putting officers on four 10-hour shifts which overlap, increasing the number of officers on duty at critical times. He also touted the increased law-enforcement capacity available through new task forces and the capabilities of the county's Metro Area Crime Center.

Shortly after the December 10 triple shooting that caused the death of Venus Godhigh in the Smithfield Court public housing community Mayor Woodfin joined with assistant police chief Allen Treadaway, council members John Hilliard and Steven Hoyt, and HABD president Michael Lundy in going door-to-door to assure residents that they are committed to reducing violent crime and urge cooperation with investigators to prosecute those responsible.

See also

References

  • Robinson, Carol (January 23, 2018) "Vigil set for Birmingham father shot to death at his home; best friend charged in killing." The Birmingham News
  • Robinson, Carol (February 6, 2018) "Birmingham mayor 'tired, grieving, hurt, frustrated' after deadly weekend." The Birmingham News
  • Robinson, Carol (April 13, 2018) "Task force takes aim at homicides, violent crime in Birmingham metro area." The Birmingham News
  • Crain, Trisha Powell (April 26, 2018) "Birmingham students hold town hall to battle gun violence." The Birmingham News
  • Robinson, Carol (July 9, 2018) "Who Killed Them? 33 unsolved Birmingham-area homicides in first 6 months of 2018." The Birmingham News
  • Dunigan, Jonece Starr (September 5, 2018) "Birmingham mayor details $180,000 community effort for youth conflict resolution training." The Birmingham News
  • Robinson, Carol (October 10, 2018) "Birmingham homicides in danger of hitting 22 year high." The Birmingham News
  • Robinson, Carol (December 10, 2018) "Outraged Birmingham mayor goes door-to-door after shooting kills 1 woman, injures 2 others." The Birmingham News
  • Robinson, Carol (December 28, 2018) "Who killed them? 60 unsolved Birmingham-area homicides in 2018." The Birmingham News
  • Robinson, Carol (January 1, 2019) "Magic City murder 2018: Birmingham's chilling homicide numbers." The Birmingham News
  • Archibald, Ramsey (May 7, 2019) "Birmingham: Mapping one year of homicides" The Birmingham News
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