2010 Birmingham homicides

This is a List of Birmingham homicides in 2010. It includes homicide cases occuring 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.

28 homicides have been reported in the city as of July 19 putting Birmingham on pace for 50 in 2010. Based on the 2009 census estimate of 230,130 population, that represents 21.7 homicides per 100,000 population for the year. Birmingham had 72 homicides in 2009, 90 in 2008, and a record of 141 in 1992. At this time in 2009 there had been 39 homicides.

Birmingham is averaging 4.2 homicides per month, or one every 7.3 days. There was 1 incident in January, 3 in February, 4 in March, 4 in April, 4 in May, 7 in June and 5 so far in July. The longest stretch without a homicide was the 26 days between February 10 and March 8. Seven deaths were reported on Sundays, 2 on Mondays, 3 on Tuesdays, 4 on Wednesdays, 5 on Thursdays, 3 on Fridays and 4 on Saturdays.

Of the 28 reported homicides, suspects have been identified in 20 cases, apprehended in 20, charged in 15 and convicted in none. One homicide was ruled justifiable by prosecutors, one resulted from an incident that happened in the year prior, and one was the result of negligence. Not counting those, the police department acknowledges 25 murders in its tabulation for the year.

At least 23 of the 28 reported homicides were shootings; one was a stabbing; one resulted from a beating; and two from vehicular collisions. Two cases appeared to be domestic disputes. Robbery appeared to be the motive in 3 cases, fleeing from police pursuit caused another, and one resulted from an attempt to break up a fight. Thirteen incidents took place on the streets, 2 in parking lots, 2 inside businesses, 3 at apartment complexes and 7 at homes or apartments. 22 victims were males and 5 were females.

Listing by date

1. January 20: Antonio Smith, 30, died at UAB Hospital from gunshot wounds suffered in an apparent robbery at his home on December 20, 2009^1.. He lived at 825 18th Place Southwest in Southwest Birmingham. (map) No arrest. (report)
2. February 7: Rachel Lee Blair, 26, was found stabbed to death in her apartment at the Forest Ridge Apartments at 660 Valley Crest Drive (map). Linus Curtis was arrested and charged with capital murder. (report)
3. February 7: Steve Hilson, 25, was found shot to death near his car on the 1800 block of Princeton Court (map). He had been shot more than 20 times. Brandon Bean was arrested at an apartment on Wilson Court Way on March 5 and charged with murder. He was in possession of crack cocaine packaged for distribution and also faces drug charges. Hilson's brother, Keith, was murdered on June 17. (report)
4. February 10: Jeff Wormley, mid-40s, was found shot to death inside a home on the 3400 block of Willard Avenue Southwest (map). No arrest. (report)
5. March 8: Antonio King, Sr, 33, died at UAB Hospital from gunshot injuries suffered during a fight at an apartment at 407 Tuscaloosa Avenue Southwest (map). His toddler son was injured in the shooting. King's cousin, Michael Ward, surrendered to police at the scene and was charged with murder and attempted murder. (report)
6. March 16: Terrez Watkins, 29, was shot multiple times and found dead next to a car in an apartment parking lot at 1525 18th Street Ensley (map). Denaris Montgomery was arrested and charged with murder. (report)
7. March 24: Roderick Reynolds, 30, was shot in a gunfight and found dead inside a black SUV at 1700 33rd Street North in Norwood Gardens (map). Cornelius Fenderson was arrested and charged with capital murder. (report)
8. March 28: Angel Munos, 30, was shot while attempting to break up a fight at Spud's Club at 5800 Oporto-Madrid Boulevard South (map). Munos' cousin was also injured by gunfire. Hugo Cruz was arrested and charged with murder and attempted murder. (report)
9. April 1: Richard Ryans, 22, was shot at 39 South Park Road (map). Larry Jefferson was charged with murder and subsequently taken into custody. (report)
10. April 3: Pamela Cupps, 50, was killed in an auto collision at Daniel Payne Drive and Coalburg Road (map). Because the other driver was feeling Fultondale Police officers and ran a red light, causing the fatal collission, he was charged with murder. (report)
11. April 4 (Easter): Marcos Esteban Nunez, 52, was found badly beaten following an assault report at 1802 50th Place North (map). He was pronounced dead on arrival at UAB Hospital. Two suspects were taken into custody. (report)
12. April 27: Erica Jean, 27, was shot four times during a domestic argument in her car on the 800 block of Avenue F Ensley (map). Her fiance, David Gianes, was also injured in the incident. He drove her to St Vincent's Hospital and was taken into custody there. He has later charged with capital murder. (report)
13. May 5: Marqualius Hakeen Harris, 18, was found shot to death in a breezeway at Beaconview Apartments, 1257 Beacon Parkway East (map). According to investigators, he was killed in an attempt to rob two other males who were injured in the incident. Prosecutors deemed the homicide justified as self defense^2.. (report)
14. May 15: Ahmad "Maud G." Lewis, 20, died from a gunshot suffered in a shooting on the 800 block of 3rd Avenue North (map). Brandon Oden was arrested and charged with capital murder. Six people on waiting lists received organs Lewis donated. (report)
15. May 28: Dexter Roland, 27, was shot multiple times after selling marijuana from his apartment at Princeton Parkway and 4th Terrace West (map). No arrest. (report)
16. May 29: Steven Clark, 31, was found shot to death at 2805 Wallace Covington Circle (map). Dwight Moneyham was arrested and charged with murder. (report)
17. June 6: Alex Rogers, Jr, 69, was shot to death during a robbery at 1601 52nd Street Ensley (map). Detrick McGee and Larry Henderson were arrested and charged. (report)
18. June 8: Randolph Lajuan Graves, 35, was shot at the Huffman Chevron station at 700 Springville Road in Huffman (map). Karl Escott was arrested and charged with murder. (report)
19. June 12: Ruth Wawira Munene, 51, was found stabbed to death inside an apartment on the 200 block of 21st Avenue South near Green Springs Highway (map). Her former roommate, Nancy Kinuthia, was arrested in Muscle Shoals and charged with murder. (report)
20. June 17: Keith Hilson, 24, was one of two killed in a shootout on the 4600 block of Terrace S Ensley near Bessemer Road (map). No arrest. His brother, Steve, was the victim of a homicide on February 7. (report)
21. June 17: Ra'Sheed Ali Ward, 19, was one of two killed in a shootout on the 4600 block of Terrace S Ensley near Bessemer Road (map). No arrest. (report)
22. June 24: Tyrone Davis, 35, was shot in the 700 block of Albany Street in Wylam (map) and died while being transferred from Princeton Baptist Medical Center to UAB Hospital. (report)
23. June 27: Anita Pickett, 32, died after her car fell from the I-20/59 overpass near the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex (map) following a collision. Michelle Gill, the driver of an SUV that rear ended her, did not stop at the scene or turn herself in. She was located a few days later from a tip, taken into custody, and later charged with manslaughter and felony leaving the scene of an accident. (report)
24. July 5: Dominique Nixon, 17, was shot and killed at the Green Springs Chevron at the corner of Green Springs Highway and Valley Avenue (map). A suspect was taken into custody. (report)
25. July 11: George Phillips, 54, was found shot to death in a pick-up truck at 4555 13th Avenue North (map). No arrest. (report)
26. July 16: Melvin Bozeman, 31, was shot to death in front of a house on the 700 block of 47th Street North (map). A suspect has been taken into custody, but not yet charged. (report)
27. July 17: Devonnterrius Randall, 15, was found shot to death on the sidewalk in front of the Shell Stop and Go at 1316 Bessemer Road (map), apparently a victim of a stray bullet. Terrance Thigpen was arrested and charged with capital murder. (report)
28. July 21: Kelvin Smith, 25, was found shot to death on the steps of an apartment building at 1425 Steiner Avenue Southwest near Woodward Park (map). No arrest. (report)

Notes

1. Although Smith was shot in 2009, his January 20, 2010 death became the year's first homicide investigation.
2. Because Harris' death resulted from an act of self-defense, it is not counted in murder statistics.

Responses

A "March Against Violence" was organized on July 29 by Brenda Ward, mother of Ra'Sheed Ward, who was killed on June 17. The day would have been Ra'Sheed's 20th birthday. Approximately 55 people participated in the demonstration which began at Marino's Grocery and proceeded down Terrace S in Ensley.

References

• Robinson, Carol (Februay 1, 2010) "Birmingham goes a month without a murder, but police say still much work to be done." Birmingham News
• Gray, Jeremy (July 29, 2010) "March seeks end to Birmingham's violent crime." Birmingham News

External links

• Slayings in the Birmingham area, 2010, Google Map created by the Birmingham News

See also

• List of homicides in 2010
• Birmingham homicides by year
• Crime in Birmingham