List of homicides in 2024

This is a List of homicides in 2024, including homicide cases reported throughout the Birmingham District. At least 48 homicides have been reported in the area for the year. Note that a "homicide" refers to a cause of death as determined by a medical examiner, not to the crime of murder, as charged by prosecutors and adjudicated through the courts.

Calhoun County

1. January 1: Kasmine L. McAfee, 21, died at Northeast Alabama Regional Medical from gunshot wounds suffered in an argument on the 2700 block of Simpson Street in Anniston. Jarvis Donquisse Swink was arrested and charged with murder. (report)

Etowah County

1. January 2: Brandi Whitt, 45, was found shot to death alongside her younger, son at their home on Glenn Gap Road northeast of Gadsden. Her older son, Brandon Wagnon, and his girlfriend were taken into custody at the scene. She was later released and he was charged with two counts of murder. (report)
2. January 2: Brantley Whitt, 9, Wagnon's half-brother, was found shot to death in the same incident.

Jefferson County

39 homicides

Bessemer

1. January 7: Brandon Jamal Nation III, 5, was pronounced dead at Children's Hospital after suffering gunshot wounds in a drive-by assault at a house on the 500 block of 7th Avenue North Bessemer where he was getting his hair cut. The man cutting his hair was critically injured and hospitalized. Kendrick Rondell O'Neal, Tatyonna Estacia Smith, Kedarrius Odell Mack, and Anthony Demarrious Steverson were arrested charged with capital murder, attempted murder, and shooting into an occupied dwelling. (report)
2. February 3: Kirby Lashon Tate Jr, 19, was found dead shot to death outside a home on the 300 block of Norwood Avenue. No arrest. (report)

Birmingham

31 homicides. See 2024 Birmingham homicides for details.

Fairfield

1. January 6: Kenneth Dewayne Smith Jr, 26, was found shot to death in a Jeep Cherokee which crashed into a residence on the 800 block of Beacon Drive. No arrest. (report)

Hueytown

1. February 19: Contravia Lamond Jackson, 43, was shot to death while in the front seat of a car parked outside a house on the 200 block of June Avenue in Pell City. The shooter was a resident of the home, and was not charged. La'Garyeus Lamar Boglin, who was with Jackson, was arrested in March and charged with first-degree robbery, first-degree kidnapping, first-degree burglary, and felony murder. (https://www.al.com/news/2024/03/man-charged-in-death-of-acquaintance-who-was-fatally-shot-by-hueytown-homeowner.html report])

Lipscomb

1. February 17: Hajsun Jermale Hudson Jr, 18, died at UAB Hospital from injuries suffered when the car he was riding in struck a tree near the intersection of 6th Avenue North and 5th Street the day before, following a short police chase. Two other passengers were in the car, one critically injured. The driver was taken into custody but charged have not been announced. (report)

Unincorporated Jefferson County

1. February 16: Gabriel Adriel Alonso Romero, 19 months, was pronounced dead on arrival at UAB Medical West in Bessemer from injuries presumed to have been suffered at his home on Mayfield Avenue in McCalla. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office investigated the death and arrested Alonso's mother's boyfriend, Oscar Espinoza Guadarrama. He was charged with capital murder. (report)
2. March 5: Jewel Bendolph, 38, was found in a shallow grave near his abandoned vehicle in a wooded area off the 5200 block of Dewey Heights Road between Pinson and Clay. He was last heard from early on March 3. No arrest. (report)
3. March 8: Keenan Orl Phillips, 33, was shot to death while apparently breaking into a home on the 6600 block of Newbridge Drive in McCalla. No charges were filed. (report)

St Clair County

1. January 22: John D. Bowlin, 61, was shot to death at his home on Lee Green Road in Moody. His wife was also injured by gunfire. Their son, John Adam Bowlin, was arrested and charged with murder and attempted murder. He was ordered held without bond pending trial. (report)

Talladega County

1. February 26: Tamekia Tana Fluker, 40, was killed by gunshots fired into her home at 306 South Main Avenue in Sylacauga. Her brother, Nartavius Cortez Fluker-Smith, had been shot to death outside the same house in 2022. Jamir De'Jawn "J. D." Russ was arrested and charged with capital murder. (report)
2. March 6: Jeremy Dewayne Wilson, 40, an Ohatchee Police Department officer, was pronounced dead at Coosa Valley Medical Center from a gunshot wound suffered during a domestic dispute at 1599 Commerce Drive in Sylacauga. No charges have been filed. ([1])

Tuscaloosa County

1. January 13: Cayden "Beau" Nolen, 20, died from gunshot wounds suffered in a shootout on the 11000 block of Pate Road in the Buhl community. Three others were injured. Dallas Eugene Clark, Zachary Tyler Smith, and Jarret Tyler Booth were arrested and charged with murder and attempted murder. (report)
2. January 28: Demarkus Hall, 30, was shot to death during a robbery at the Landmark Apartments on Old Greensboro Road in Tuscaloosa. Kyandre Grant, Rashad Aaron, and Cadarious Williams were arrested and charged with murder. Jamil Prentice was also charged with conspiracy to commit robbery in connection with Hall's death. (report)
3. March 5: Jessika Lyn Andrews, 35, was found beaten to death at her home on the 1700 block of 47th Avenue Northwest in Holt. Her former boyfriend, Jarvos Jermaine Osborne, was arrested and charged with capital murder. (report)

Responses

The nonprofit Mothers United Against Gun Violence began holding monthly support group meetings at Homewood Public Library for families of victims of violence.

References

• Bookman, Alaina (January 21, 2024) "Birmingham Mothers United Against Gun Violence to begin grief support group." AL.com