2022 Birmingham homicides

This is a List of Birmingham homicides in 2022. 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.

7 homicides have been reported in the city as of January 10, putting the city on pace for 256 for the year. Based on the 2020 census count of 200,733 population, that represents a homicide rate of 127.5 homicides per 100,000 residents. Birmingham had 141 homicides in 2021. The recent record low of 62 homicides was set in 2014, and the recent record high was 148 in 1992. At this point last year, 3 homicides had been reported.

The city has averaged 21.7 homicides per month, or one every 1.4 days. There were 7 incidents so far in January. The longest stretch without a homicide was the 3-day spans between January 1–4 and 4–7. 0 deaths were reported on Sundays, 0 on Mondays, 2 on Tuesdays, 0 on Wednesdays, 0 on Thursdays, 1 on a Friday, and 4 on Saturdays.

None of the reported homicides were ruled justifiable as self-defense by investigators or prosecutors, and none resulted from reckless driving. The police department therefore acknowledges 7 chargeable homicides, none of which were charged as manslaughter. Suspects have been identified in no cases, arrested in none and charged in none.

7 deaths so far have resulted from shootings. 1 incident occurred at an apartment complex, 1 at a business, 1 in a private parking lot, and 4 on the streets. 4 deaths were reported in the West Precinct, 1 in the East Precinct, 2 in the South Precinct and 0 in the North Precinct.

One death came during a larger fight, 4 appeared to have been targeted assaults, and one came from a stray bullet. The motive in one other death has not been publicized.

5 victims were male and 2 were female.

Listing by date

1. January 1: Fernando Jose Cruz-Soto, 20, died at UAB Hospital after being found shot in a parking lot after a reported early morning fight on the 300 block of 24th Street South in the Southside neighborhood. No arrest. (report)
2. January 1: Timothy Dean Pinson, 32, was found shot to death in a car at the Vida on Valley apartments on the 800 block of Cable Car Court off Valley Avenue in Glen Iris. No arrest. (report)
3. January 4: Michelle Kemp Gilder, 40, was shot to death in a vehicle on Treadwell Road near Tarrant-Huffman Road, along the northern fenceline of Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport property in Brownsville Heights. A male passenger in the same car was grazed by a bullet. No arrest. (report)
4. January 4: Leeco Whittington, 24, died at UAB Hospital from gunshot wounds suffered during an assault at the Citgo gas station at 36 South Park Road Southwest in Central Park. Two suspects fled in a silver sedan. No arrests. (report)
5. January 7: An unidentified male was found shot to death and burned near the intersection of Birmingport Road and Slayden Avenue in Sherman Heights. No arrest.
6. January 8: Ed Franklin Harris, 49, was shot to death while riding a motorcycle at 16th Way Southwest and Matt Leonard Drive at the border of Powderly and Mason City. Multiple suspects abandoned a vehicle at the scene and fled on foot. No arrests. (report)
7. January 8: Yasmine Wright, 16, was struck and killed by a bullet from the same shooting.

See also

• List of homicides in 2022
• Birmingham homicides by year
• Crime in Birmingham