2021 Birmingham homicides

This is a List of Birmingham homicides in 2021. 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.

64 homicides have been reported in the city as of June 30, putting the city on pace for 129 for the year. Based on the 2020 census estimate of 205,325 population, that represents a homicide rate of 62.8 homicides per 100,000 residents. Birmingham had 124 homicides in 2020. The recent record low of 63 homicides was set in 2014, and the recent record high was 141 in 1992. At this point last year, 55 homicides had been reported.

The city has averaged 10.7 homicides per month, or one every 2.8 days. There were 7 fatal incidents of violence in January, 8 in February, 7 in March, 14 in April, 14 in May and 14 so far in June. The longest stretch without a homicide was the 12-day span between January 20 and February 1. 14 deaths were reported on Sundays, 8 on Mondays, 3 on Tuesdays, 8 on Wednesdays, 7 on Thursdays, 5 on Fridays, and 19 on Saturdays.

Four homicides were police-involved shootings. Five of the other reported homicides were ruled justifiable as self-defense by investigators or prosecutors, and two resulted from reckless driving. The police department therefore acknowledges 54 chargeable homicides. Suspects have been identified in 26 cases, arrested in 24 and charged in 19. One suspect in two homicides was shot to death by police. One other death that resulted from a shooting in Pinson is also being investigated by Birmingham police.

57 deaths so far have resulted from shootings, 2 from reckless driving, 2 from blunt-force trauma and 3 from unannounced causes. 18 incidents occurred at private homes, 9 at apartment complexes, 1 at a motel, 2 at parks, 13 at businesses, and 21 on the streets. 26 were reported in the West Precinct, 27 in the East Precinct, 4 in the South Precinct and 7 in the North Precinct.

Seven homicides took place in apparent self defense, 7 are believed to have been domestic disputes, 14 followed verbal arguments, 1 took place during an attempted theft, 2 resulted from reckless driving, and at least 16 appeared to be targeted killings. The motive is unknown in 17 deaths.

57 victims were male and 7 were female. One was a small child.

Listing by date

1. January 1: Carl Joseph Miserendino III, 35, was found dead on the side of a house on the 4000 block of 40th Avenue North in Inglenook. Isaiah Williams White was charged with capital murder. He was captured in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in January. Miserendino's car was also recovered in Florida. (report)
2. January 2: Chong Ku Hwang, 56, known to be a transient, was found dead in the southern part of Linn Park in Central City. No arrest. (report)
3. January 3: Brian Keith Fleming, 52, was found shot to death on a walk near the apartment building at 2108 Warrior Road in Ensley Highlands. A 17-year-old suspect was charged with murder. (report)
4. January 11: LaCorey Lashard McDonald, 31, died at St Vincent's East from wounds suffered in an assault in Zion City. No arrest. (report)
5. January 17: Timothy Hall, 39, was found dead from gunshot wounds in a car abandoned behind the Shell gas station at 3833 East Lake Boulevard in Inglenook. The shooting occurred earlier on the 200 block of 62nd Street South in South Woodlawn. Lawrence Earl Eaton turned himself in to police. (report)
6. January 18: Kenneth Buford, 47, was shot to death while driving on the 1400 block of Bankhead Highway in Thomas. The suspects were reported to have fired from a pickup truck. No arrest. (report)
7. January 20: Eusi Malik Kater Jr, 21, died from gunshot wounds suffered during a shootout with police on the 600 block of Center Place Southwest in South Titusville. The incident is being reviewed by the Alabama State Bureau of Investigation. (report)
8. February 1: Eula Mae Moore, 75, and Derrick Cornell Moore, 54, were found shot to death in the elder Moore's home at 1481 Edwards Street in Dolomite. One of the victims is presumed a victim of homicide, while the other has not been classified by investigators. No arrest. (report)
9. February 4: Edward Dee Stewart III, 33, was shot to death at the Anchor Motel at 8420 1st Avenue North in North East Lake. James Harrison was arrested and charged with murder. (report)
10. February 4: Major Turner, 2, died at Children's Hospital from a gunshot wound suffered at his home in the Kimbrough Homes public housing community on the 2900 block of John Bryan Road in Wenonah. His mother was also wounded by gunshots, which came from outside the apartment. No arrest. (report)
11. February 6: Carlos Mines, 26, was shot to death while in a car near Birmingham Fire Station No. 18 at 200 Dugan Avenue in North Pratt. A person of interest was taken into custody at the scene for questioning. No arrest. (report)
12. February 7: Ladarius Bloxom, 30, was shot to death during a robbery at the Valley Brook Apartments on the 2900 block of Gallant Drive in Apple Valley. Ladarius Hayes was arrested and charged with capital murder. (report)
13. February 17: Ogle Terrance Avery, 40, was found shot to death following an altercation at the Shell gas station at 800 3rd Avenue West in Bush Hills. Quarmica Lashun Colley was arrested and charged with murder. Another individual is likely to also be charged. (report)
14. February 20: LaTeshia Danner, 33, died at UAB Hospital from gunshot wounds suffered in the parking lot of Eastmont Villa apartments at 7521–7529 2nd Avenue North in Wahouma. Her boyfriend, Leonard Charles Tolbert, was arrested and charged with murder. (report)
15. February 25: Detraio Deshawn Whorton, 27, was shot to death while in a car in the parking lot of Zing's Custom Car Wash at 8610 1st Avenue North in North East Lake. Investigators determined that he initiated an altercation with an acquaintance, and that the shooting was justified. (report)
16. March 4: Terrance Jerome Hardy, 39, was found dead from a gunshot wound in a burning apartment on the 100 block of Wood Station Place in South Woodlawn. Iesa Collins was arrested and charged with murder and abuse of a corpse. (report)
17. March 12: Robert Henry Goodgame, 41, was found shot to death in an apartment at 962 53rd Street North in Woodlawn. No arrest. (report)
18. March 13: Levert Mickens, 63, was found shot to death after an altercation at the porch of a boarding house in the 500 block of St Charles Avenue Southwest in Arlington-West End. One person was detained for questioning, but no charges have been announced. (report)
19. March 19: Lazonathan Rhodes, 25, died at UAB Hospital from a gunshot suffered during an altercation outside the City Gear and Hibbett Sports stores at Roebuck Plaza. Another person was injured. Ja'Marcus Jordan was arrested in April and charged with murder. Additional charges are expected related to guns and narcotics found at his home. (report)
20. March 21: Brandy Lee Moore Ballard, 52, was killed when her Ford Focus was struck head-on by a Chevrolet Camaro on the the 800 block of Arkadelphia Road on the Bush Hills / College Hills border. Investigators believe that Carmesia Flannigan, the driver of the Camaro, who left the scene, was engaged in a street race at the time of the collision. She was arrested and charged with murder, leaving the scene of an accident with injury, and unlawful possession of a controlled substance. She was released on bond, but her bond from earlier cases was subsequently revoked, and she was re-arrested by US Marshals in Atlanta, Georgia on April 6. (report)
21. March 21: Montrell Fredriskgus Holloway, 29, was found dead from a gunshot wound at the Alameda Terrace Apartments on the 1600 block of Alameda Court Southwest in West End Manor. Chelsie Jones was arrested and charged with capital murder. (report)
22. March 30: Jubraun Leonard Wright, 27, was found shot to death outside a car on the 1600 block of 13th Avenue North in Fountain Heights. Investigators determined that the shooting was justified and filed no criminal charges. (report)
23. April 1: Louis Bryant, 44, was shot to death in an apparent domestic dispute at a home at 1516 Vanderbilt Road in Collegeville. Jasmine Mari Drake was taken into custody at the scene and later charged with capital murder. (report)
24. April 4: Areyelle Meishaun Yarbrough, 32, died from a gunshot wound to the head suffered when a fight broke out during an Easter Sunday gathering at W. C. Patton Park in North Avondale. No arrest. (report)
25. April 5: Desmon Montez Ray Jr, 28, died at UAB Hospital from a gunshot injury suffered during a Sunday night confrontation with Birmingham Police officers. Ray emerged from a suspect car that crashed into a fence on the 200 block of 9th Avenue West in College Hills, after fleeing the scene of a reported domestic violence incident. He was holding a handgun and fired a shot before police returned fire. The Alabama State Bureau of Investigation is reviewing the circumstances of the fatal police shooting. (report)
26. April 5: Travio Ollison, 19, was shot to death while attempting to help settle a domestic dispute on the 1900 block of Druid Hill Drive in Evergreen. Investigators determined that the shooting was justifiable as self-defense and filed no criminal charges. (report)
27. April 6: Franardo Armondo Moore, 36, was found shot to death on the 2500 block of 13th Avenue North in Druid Hills. No arrest. (report)
28. April 7: Howard Johnson, 29, was shot to death during a domestic argument at a home on the 800 block of Avenue G in Ensley. A suspect was taken into custody at the scene, but no charges have been announced. (report)
29. April 7: Savion Issabell, 16, was found shot to death in a home on the 3600 block of 40th Street North in Inglenook after a drive-by assault. No arrest. (report)
30. April 9: Tyrone King, 29, a Birmingham Water Works worker, was killed in a drive-by shooting while driving a utility truck at the Eastwood Village shopping center in Eastwood. No arrest. (report)
31. April 10: Rodriguez Valides Holt, 44, was found shot to death following an altercation at a "shot house" at 2722 Avenue J Ensley, near Ensley Park in Ensley. No arrest. (report)
32. April 17: Robert Lee Johnson, 64, died in home hospice care, four weeks after suffering blunt force trauma in a dispute at a relative's home on the 1100 block of Penfield Drive in Penfield Park. Johnson's death is being investigated as a homicide, but no arrests have been announced. (report)
33. April 18: Jermaine Demarico Johnson, 48, was found shot to death in the living room of his home at Autumn Chase apartments on Chase Lane Northeast in Apple Valley. Donna Wilburn Johnson was taken into custody at the scene and later charged with murder. (report)
34. April 18: Tyree Marcell Brown, 18, was shot to death at Wilson’s Grocery Store at 1200 Five Mile Road in Killough Springs. The shots are believed to have come from a car outside the store. (report)
35. April 29: Robert Thomas Dickson Jr, 39, and another man were found shot to death in a car at at 512 10th Avenue West in College Hills. No arrest. (report)
36. April 29: Olanders Earl Spencer, 40, was killed in the same incident.
37. May 2: Eric Tyler Sledge Jr, 27, was shot to death on the 1100 block of 20th Street South in Five Points South after an earlier altercation. Larry Denzel Rollins was arrested and charged with murder. (report)
38. May 5: Perry Lee Mixon, 62, was found shot to death in a parking lot on the 800 block of 46th Street North in Kingston. No arrest. (report)
39. May 9: Demonteco Usher, 19, was found shot to death at 6709 Interlaken Avenue in Gate City. No arrest.
40. May 12: Keith "Big Keith" Hardy, 29, was found shot to death in a car in the parking lot of the Monarch Ridge Apartments on the 2900 block of Gallant Drive in Apple Valley. Investigators determined that Hardy had exchanged words with someone in a silver SUV, and had been shot while attempting to drive away. During the investigation, several fights broke out among onlookers and police locked down the complex for part of the morning. Two persons were taken into custody for questioning at the scene. Quanderiu Montez Sanders was arrested and charged with capital murder. (report)
41. May 12: James Williams, 17, was shot to death in a drive-by at while waiting for a friend in a courtyard at the Marland Apartments at 2737 Jefferson Avenue Southwest. No arrest. (report)
42. May 15: Albert Lamar Griffin Jr, 21, was pronounced dead at a hospital from gunshot wounds suffered in an assault in his home at 2623 Avenue S Ensley in Ensley Highlands. Jessie James Jones, an acquaintance of Griffin's, was arrested in June and charged with murder. (report)
43. May 15: Jaishuntae Ladarus Browning, 20, was found wounded in a small red car near the intersection of 29th Street Ensley and Avenue Z in Fairview . He was taken to Princeton Baptist Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. An altercation took place before the shooting. No arrest. (report)
44. May 16: Courtney Jan "Coco" Ashley, 35, was pronounced dead at UAB Hospital from gunshot wounds suffered while she was walking her dog at the intersection of 10th Avenue South and Richard Arrington Jr Boulevard South near Brother Bryan Park in Five Points South. Brian Timothy Dunne, an ex-boyfriend, was identified as a suspect. He was shot to death in an exchange of fire with police at his apartment later the same day. Ashley's dog was recovered later and returned to her family. (report)
45. May 16: Brian Anthony Adkins, 34, identified by bystanders as a transient often seen in the area, was shot to death in the same incident. (report)
46. May 16: Brian Timothy Dunne, 39, a suspect in the shootings at Brother Bryan Park, was shot to death after firing at Birmingham Police SWAT team officers executing an arrest warrant at his home at the Warwick Terrace Apartments at 1010 18th Street South in Five Points South. Two officers were wounded. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agencys State Bureau of Investigation is reviewing the officer-involved shooting. (report)
47. May 17: Tavarius Hampton, 25, was shot to death during a confrontation outside a house on the 7800 block of 6th Avenue South in South East Lake. Two people were taken into custody for questioning. Investigators determined that the shooting was justified and no charges were filed. (https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/2021/05/shooting-death-of-us-army-sergeant-in-birmingham-ruled-justifiable.html report])
48. May 20: Bertin Rodriguez Molina, 40, died at UAB Hospital from injuries suffered when he was struck by a car while walking on the 1100 block of 3rd Avenue West four days earlier. The driver fled the scene. No arrest. (report)
49. May 22: Rondarius Oji Bryant, 30, died at UAB Hospital from gunshot wounds suffered the night before outside King's Foods at 1528 Warrior Road. Witnesses say he was caught in crossfire between two shooters. No arrest. (report)
50. May 28: Robert Jonathan Roy, 41, died at UAB Hospital from a gunshot wound suffered during an attempted theft at the Chevron gas station at 2301 Ensley Five Points West Avenue in Ensley Highlands. No arrest. (report)
51. June 1: Desmon Antwuan McGuire, 17, was fatally wounded at Avenue O and 20th Place, in the Tuxedo Terrace housing community in Ensley's Tuxedo neighborhood. He is believed to have been struck by a shot fired from a vehicle. No arrest. McGuire's father, Brandon, was the victim of a 2009 homicide. (report)
52. June 5: Joseph Demetrice Robinson, 25, was one of two men shot to death in an assault at the Circle K at 232 Roebuck Plaza Drive in Roebuck. Another male was wounded. Robinson's 1-year old son was in the car, but was uninjured. The suspected shooter, Antonio Shaw, was taken into custody nearby and charged with two counts of capital murder. (report)
53. June 5: Rikki D'Unri Christopher Bynum, 27, was killed in the same incident.
54. June 10: Earnest Moody Jr, 33, was shot to death in a drive-by shooting at an apartment complex on the 1900 block of 14th Avenue North in Druid Hills. Deandre Brantley surrendered to police and was charged with capital murder. (report)
55. June 12: Claude Alamin Jones, 20, was shot to death while riding a bicycle on the 100 block of Center Street South in South Titusville. No arrest. (report)
56. June 12: Sheila Chantel Johnson, 27, died at UAB Hospital from injuries suffered in a May 22 vehicle-to-vehicle shooting on the 8300 block of 1st Avenue North in North East Lake. The driver and one of three children in the car were also injured by gunfire. No arrest. (report)
57. June 14: Lykeria Briana Taylor, 21, died at UAB Hospital from injuries suffered in a vehicle-to-vehicle shooting at the intersection of Avenue V Ensley and Warrior Road at Central Park/Ensley Highlands, shortly after leaving Euphoria Sports Bar & Hookah Lounge where a shooting had taken place earlier. No arrest. (report)
58. June 14: Anthony Bernard Jackson Jr, 43, was found shot to death in a pickup truck on the 1500 block of 29th Street Ensley. It was reported that the shooter pulled up behind Jackson in a silver SUV, got out and shot him multiple times, then drove off. Darric Hall was arrested and charged with capital murder. (report)
59. June 14: Clint Blake Dean, 31, was shot to death during a domestic argument at a house on the 900 block of 47th Place North in Woodlawn. No arrest. (report)
60. June 14: Armonda Contreras, 43, was shot to death by Birmingham Police officers during a violent altercation at the El Girasol taqueria and tienda at 8506 1st Avenue North in North East Lake. Contreras fled into the business after police attempted to pull him over for driving on the wrong side of the road. He threw bottles and wrested a taser away from officers before he was shot. The incident is being reviewed by the Alabama State Bureau of Investigation. (report)
61. June 15: Carlester Blue, 68, died at UAB Hospital after suffering blunt force trauma in an assault at the Cherry Avenue Citgo at 501 Forestdale Boulevard in Smithfield Estates. No arrest. (report)
62. June 19: Josiah Bryant, 22, was shot to death at Hatcher’s Auto Transmission Center at 543 Tuscaloosa Avenue Southwest. The shooting is presumed to have been justified as he was struck while exchanging gunfire with an employee during an attempted robbery. (report)
63. June 23: Jajuan Marquis Tanniehill, 20, was found shot to death at The Onyx at 600 apartments on Earline Circle in the Spring Lake neighborhood. No arrest. (report)
64. June 29: Dentarius Maurice Jackson, 20, died at UAB Hospital from gunshot wounds suffered the previous night at the Chevron gas station at 8730 1st Avenue North. Two people were taking into custody for questioning. No charges have been announced. (report)

Responses

Paul Hollman, pastor of Mount Mariah Baptist Church, called on Mayor Randall Woodfin to declare a state of emergency over the city's homicide rate. His church has sponsored billboards with the message "Let’s Build. Not Kill! Reset 2021," and launched "Citizens Against Killings" campaign.

Following Areyelle Yarbough's death from a stray bullet fired during an Easter gathering at W. C. Patton Park, Rickey Smiley, a family friend, spoke out against "no-snitch" culture and offered a $5,000 reward for information.

In April, Mayor Woodfin joined with Chief Smith, Birmingham City Council Public Safety Committee chair Hunter Williams, Sheriff Mark Pettway, Jefferson County District Attorney Danny Carr, and U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona to emphasize that investigations and prosecutions of gun crimes will be prioritized.

On May 8, the Mayor's office and Police Department partnered with the Pi Upsilon Sigma chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. to organize a voluntary gun buy-back program at First Ebenezer Baptist Church on Graymont Avenue. Wal-Mart gift cards were distributed to those turning in guns. On June 5 a group called Students Demand Action Birmingham held a "Peace Rally" at Kelly Ingram Park.

In June the Mayor's office announced a $125,000 "Gun Violence Against Children Fund," offering $25,000 rewards through Crime Stoppers for information leading to arrests in any of the five cases in which the victims were young children.

See also

• List of homicides in 2021
• Birmingham homicides by year
• Crime in Birmingham

References

• Robinson, Carol (January 4, 2021) "Birmingham pastor says killings ‘out of control, unacceptable,’ calls for state of emergency." The Birmingham News
• Robinson, Carol (April 5, 2021) "Rickey Smiley offers reward in Birmingham park shooting that killed woman, injured 5: ‘I’m really angry’." The Birmingham News
• Robinson, Carol (April 23, 2021) "Gun criminals in Birmingham will be ‘outmanned, out-resourced, outworked,’ Jefferson County leaders vow." The Birmingham News
• Robinson, Carol (May 3, 2021) "Birmingham police will hold gun buyback in ongoing fight against violence." The Birmingham News
• Davenport, Fred (June 3, 2021) "Birmingham area students to hold 'Peace Rally' Friday at Kelly Ingram Park." WVTM13.com
• Love, Michelle (June 8, 2021) "$125,000 Fund Set Up for Rewards in Shootings of Children" BirminghamWatch
• Prickett, Sam (June 23, 2021) "Mayor Woodfin Seeks Community Help to Find Shooters of Children" BirminghamWatch/WHBM.org