2017 Birmingham homicides
This is a List of Birmingham homicides in 2017. 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.
Three homicides have been reported in the city as of January 12, putting the city on pace for 91 for the year. Based on the 2015 census estimate of 212,461 population, that would represent 42.8 homicides per 100,000 residents. Birmingham had 104 homicides in 2016 and a record low of 62 homicides in 2014. The recent record high was 141 in 1992. At this time in 2016 there had been 4 homicides reported.
The city has averaged 7.75 homicides per month, or one every 4.0 days. There were 3 incidents in January. The longest stretch without a homicide was the 7 days between January 3 and 11. No violent deaths were reported on Sundays, 1 on a Monday, 1 on a Tuesday, 1 on a Wednesday, none on Thursdays, none on Fridays and none on Saturdays.
Of the 3 reported homicides, none have been ruled justifiable by prosecutors. The police department therefore acknowledges 3 chargeable homicides, all classified as murders. Suspects have been identified in 1 of those cases, apprehended in 1, and charged in none.
All three deaths so far have resulted from shootings. At least one incident occurred on the streets, one at a business, and one at an apartment complex. Two were reported in the West Precinct, none in the East Precinct, none in the South Precinct and one in the North Precinct. One death resulted from a dispute between a man and his ex-girlfriend, another from an ongoing grudge, and the motive is unknown in another case. Two victims were male and one was female.
Listing by date
- January 2: Christina Anderson, 30, of Hoover died from a gunshot wound suffered the previous evening while she was walking with another person on the 800 block of Center Street North in Smithfield. She was driven to Princeton Baptist Medical Center and later transferred to UAB Hospital where she died Monday morning. No arrest. (report)
- January 3: Randale Lamar Oden, 34, of Bessemer was shot to death outside a unit at The Oaks Apartments on Earline Circle in the Spring Lake neighborhood. He had been fighting with an ex-girlfriend and followed her to the residence of an acquaintance of hers. Oden was killed in the resulting fight with the acquaintance. The shooter was taken into custody, but has not been charged. (report)
- January 11: Rashiem Hakiem Porter, 26, was shot to death during a fight in the parking lot of the Best Convenience Store on Pearson Avenue at 17th Place Southwest. (report)