2018 Birmingham homicides

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This is a List of Birmingham homicides in 2018. 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.

43 homicides have been reported in the city as of May 18, putting the city on pace for 114 for the year. Based on the 2016 census estimate of 212,157 population, that would represent 53.7 homicides per 100,000 residents. Birmingham had 115 homicides in 2017. The recent record low of 62 homicides was set in 2014, and the recent record high was 141 in 1992. At this point in 2017, 45 homicides had been reported.

The city has averaged 9.5 homicides per month, or one every 3.2 days. There were 7 incidents in January, 11 in February, 12 in March, 8 in April and 5 so far in May. The longest stretch without a homicide was the 13-day span between April 9-22. Four deaths were reported on Sundays, 11 on Mondays, 4 on Tuesdays, 7 on Wednesdays, 3 on Thursdays, 8 on Fridays, and 6 on Saturdays.

Three of the reported homicides were ruled justifiable as self-defense by investigators or prosecutors. In one of those cases murder charges were filed against an accomplice of the victim. Two other cases resulted from reckless driving. The police department therefore acknowledges 38 chargeable homicides, two of which were charged as manslaughter and the rest as murder. Suspects have been identified in 15 cases, apprehended in 14, and charged in 9. Two suspects killed themselves.

34 deaths so far have resulted from shootings, two from stabbing, two from reckless driving, and five from unspecified causes. Fifteen incidents occurred on the streets, two at public parks, 12 at private homes, one at a school, 6 at businesses, 6 at apartment complexes and 1 at an undetermined location. 26 were reported in the West Precinct, 7 in the East Precinct, 1 in the South Precinct and 9 in the North Precinct. Two deaths resulted from self-defense, one from a robbery, one from a domestic incident, three from sudden arguments, six over ongoing disputes, two from stray bullets, two from reckless driving, and the motive is unknown in 25 other deaths. 35 victims were male, 7 were female, and one was an unborn fetus.

Listing by date

  1. January 3: Elie Jameel Miller, 18, was shot to death at the King City Food Mart on Warrior Road and Avenue P in Belview Heights (map) Investigators determined that he and his twin brother Kenneth had attempted to steal a car with a female passenger inside and were confronted by the owner, who shot at them during a struggle. The shooter was not charged. Kenneth Miller was charged with felony murder as an accomplice in a crime that resulted in a homicide. (report)
  2. January 6: DeQuinton Danner, 25, was shot to death while driving his girlfriend's car on the 300 block of Robison Drive in Roebuck (map). No arrest. (report)
  3. January 11: Felicia Antoinette Fletcher, 31, was found shot to death in an apparent murder-suicide inside an apartment at Tom Brown Village housing project in North Avondale (map). Lee Otis Farrow Hamilton, 28, is believed to have killed her before shooting himself. (report)
  4. January 15: Eric Cotton, 28, was shot to death inside a home at 3633 45th Avenue North in Harriman Park (map). His friend, Luther Gray, had been hanging out and drinking before he suddenly pulled two guns and began firing. A woman escaped the house unharmed. Gray pursued her and broke into a neighbor's house and fired more rounds without further injury. He was arrested nearby by police responding to the sound of gunfire and later charged with murder, assault and burglary. (report)
  5. January 15: Gregory Walker, 61, was shot to death on the 4700 block of Carver Avenue Southwest in Hillman map). He was killed during a confrontation over an earlier hit-and-run collision. The shooter surrendered to police for questioning, but no charges were filed because it was determined he fired in self-defense. (report)
  6. January 18: James Chapman, 19, was shot to death after pulling a gun during an altercation in a house on the 200 block of Tucker Avenue in Roebuck map). After an investigation, prosecutors determined the shooting was self-defense and did not file criminal charges. (report)
  7. January 30: Sheldon "Tron" Watkins, 26, was assaulted and shot to death at the Chevron gas station at 1800 31st Street Southwest in Jones Valley (map). He and his assailant had been involved in an ongoing jealous dispute. The shooter, Bobby Eugene Cox, initially fled the scene, but later turned himself in to police and was charged with murder. (report)
  8. February 2: Ricky Parker, 58, was found shot to death in the back yard of his home on the 1000 block of 46th Street Ensley in Belview Heights (map). No arrest. (report)
  9. February 2: Michael Lee, 17, was wounded in a shootout between two cars at McAlpine Park on the 1100 block of Avenue F in Ensley (map). Both vehicles fled and Lee was found later in Fairfield. The incident appears to have begun as an online dispute. No arrest. (report)
  10. February 3: Davon Everson, 22, was fatally wounded in a shootout between cars on the 2000 block of 28th Street in Ensley Highlands (map). He was found behind the wheel of his car in the bushes at Fairview Park nearby. Either he or a passenger in his car may have been targeted in retaliation for an earlier shooting. No arrest. (report)
  11. February 4: Rickey Smith, 61, was found shot to death behind the Western Mental Health Center at 1701 Avenue D in Ensley (map). No arrest. (report)
  12. February 9: Dietrich "Dede" Boone, 20, was stabbed to death, and also shot, in the back yard of a home on the 8400 block of 9th Avenue South in South East Lake (map). The two had argued over a woman. Arron Jamal Gaines turned himself in to police the same day, and was charged with murder. (report)
  13. February 11: Reginald Brown, 50, was shot to death during an argument outside the Omar Discount Store at 1531 12th Court North in Fountain Heights (map). No arrest. Misty Lynn Wright, who is believed to have been in company with the victim, is sought for questioning as a potential witness. (report)
  14. February 12: Ty Alexander Pepper, 19, was shot to death in an assault on 12th Avenue North in Fountain Heights (map). The shooter fled the scene. No arrest. (report)
  15. February 12: Elizabeth Annette Price, 18, Pepper's girlfriend, was killed in the same assault.
  16. February 20: Darrel Keith Daniels, 46, a transient, was found dead behind the Chevron station on the 1300 block of Bessemer Road in Central Park (map). He was stabbed in the leg during an argument with another man and bled out. A suspect was taken into custody, but has not yet been charged. (report)
  17. February 21: Eric Anthony Roney, 51, was fatally wounded by a stray bullet during a car-to-car shootout on the 800 block of 4th Avenue West in Bush Hills (map). No arrest. (report)
  18. February 27: Curlie Jamal Burns, 22, was found shot to death on the side of the 2900 block of S. J. Bennett Drive in Industrial Center (map). No arrest. (report)
  19. March 5: Clifford Devon Harris, 29, was shot to death during an ambush at his home in the Alameda Terrace Apartments at 1750 Alameda Court Southwest in West End Manor (map). No arrest. (report)
  20. March 7: Courtlin Arrington, 17, died from a gunshot wound suffered during an after-school shooting at Huffman High School (map). The incident was at first characterized as accidental, but after investigating further, classmate Michael Jerome Barber was charged with manslaughter. (report)
  21. March 12: Jacari Maddox, 18, was found shot to death in the bushes at Oakmont Street and Slayden Avenue in Sherman Heights (map). No arrest. (report)
  22. March 14: Nancy Swift, 63, a nursing supervisor, was shot to death by a staff member, and a second person injured during an incident on the second floor of UAB Highlands hospital at 1201 11th Avenue South in Five Points South (map). The shooter killed himself at the scene. (report)
  23. March 17: Minnie Gray Young, 57, was found dead in an unrented room at the America's Best Inn on Messer Airport Highway. Her death was later ruled a homicide. No arrest. (report)
  24. March 19: Jamaal Grimes, 29, died at UAB Hospital from gunshot wounds suffered the previous night in a home at 2501 29th Street Ensley in Fairview (map). One person was taken into custody. No charges have been announced. (report)
  25. March 20: Remus Kevin Scalf, 46, was shot to death in an apparent robbery while doing remodeling work at a home at 1501 45th Street Ensley in Belview Heights (map). Another man was injured. No arrest. (report)
  26. March 23: Garry Lynn Logan, 29, was found shot to death in a grassy area at the Central Gardens Apartments on the 2300 block of South Park Drive in Central Park (map). Thavion Vanhorn was charged with murder in early April and turned himself in at County Jail. His brother, Travis Vanhorn, was arrested a few days later and also charged. (report)
  27. March 29: Richard Stephen Roberts, 23, died at UAB Hospital from gunshot wounds suffered while he was working on a car on the 1800 block of Francis Avenue Southwest in West End Manor (map). No arrest. (report)
  28. March 30: Gilbert George Morgan II, 28, was found dead inside his home on the 1400 block of Indiana Street in Wylam (map). No arrest. (report)
  29. March 31: Al Jamard Frank, 35, died at UAB Hospital from gunshot wounds suffered in the parking lot outside his home at the Centenniel Villa Apartments at 1430 Fred L. Shuttleworth Drive in Collegeville (map). Dennis Powell was arrested and charged with murder. (report)
  30. March 31: Rodriguez Shuford, 31, died at UAB Hospital from gunshot wounds suffered outside a home he was visiting at 3725 27th Street North in North Birmingham (map). Deaundre Cain was arrested a few days later and charged with reckless manslaughter. (report)
  31. April 1: Derrick Mason, 37, was shot to death during an argument on the 7500 block of 64th Courtway South in the Marks Village housing project in Gate City (map). No arrest. (report)
  32. April 2: Demetrius Montez Smith, 24, was shot to death while riding in a car on the 4500 block of Grasselli Boulevard in Grasselli Heights (map). Tyrell Rashad Nichols was arrested in late April and charged with capital murder and two counts of attempting to elude police. (report)
  33. April 6: An unborn child died in the womb from injuries sustained by its mother in a shooting at 916 1st Street North in the Smithfield Court public housing project in Smithfield (map). The determination of its cause of death was made by the Jefferson County Coronor's Office on April 9. Avery Turner was charged with capital murder and turned himself in to police. (report)
  34. April 9: Paul Louis Thomas, 56, was struck and killed by a vehicle on Avenue I and 54th Street in the Vinesville section of Belview Heights (map). The vehicle left the scene. No arrest. (report)
  35. April 22: Darien Haslip, 24, was shot to death inside a home at 1412 36th Street North in Norwood (map). No arrest. (report)
  36. April 25: Nyteria Spigner, 17, died at UAB Hospital from a wound to the head caused by a stray bullet fired during a dispute outside the Inglenook Park Recreation Center at 4016 37th Avenue North in Inglenook (map). One suspect was taken into custody but released after further investigation. (report)
  37. April 27: Michael Steven Matthew, 47, was found in the trunk of his Dodge Avenger, left in a parking lot on the 1000 block of 35th Street Ensley in Ensley Highlands (map). He had last been seen alive in early April. No arrest. (report)
  38. April 30: Cornelious Lamar Tolbert, 31, was pronounced dead at Princeton Baptist Medical Center after being wounded by gunshot in a fight near the intersection of 40th Street Ensley and Court K in Belview Heights (map). No arrest. (report)
  39. May 11: An unnamed male was dropped off at Princeton Baptist Medical Center with gunshot wounds that proved fatal. No arrest. (report)
  40. May 12: I'akyria Rukell Kimbrough, 18, was struck and killed while standing along I-59/20 near Center Street in East Thomas after a breakdown. The driver left the scene after hitting her, but later turned himself in at Birmingham Police Headquarters. No charges have been filed. (report)
  41. May 14: Justin Kyle Lett, 28, last seen early Sunday morning at Marty's PM, was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds on Appalachee Alley near 11th Avenue North in North Avondale (map). No arrest. (report)
  42. May 16: An unnamed male was found dead in the cab of a semi-trailer truck parked at the Citgo at 1101 Bankhead Highway in Thomas (map). His death was ruled a homicide the next day. No arrest. (report)
  43. May 16: Juan Williams, 39, was found dead at his home on the 700 block of Albany Street in Wylam. (map). The coroner later ruled his death a homicide. No arrest. (report)

Responses

Mayor Randall Woodfin and U.S. Attorney Jay Town led the formation of a task force to address violent crime in the area. Representatives of the Birmingham Police Department, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, the Shelby County Drug Task Force,. the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District, the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office, the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles, and several federal agencies. The group held its first meeting on April 13, 2018 in order to coordinate resources toward implementing the city's "Operation Step Up" program alongside the Department of Justice's "Project Safe Neighborhoods" and "National Public Safety Partnership". Among the strategies pushed by those programs is the idea of using shared information about repeat offenders to target "key offenders" in violent crime "hot spots" as the most effective means of reducing overall violent crime. Other priorities discussed by Woodfin included jobs programs and longer hours for neighborhood recreation centers.

A Birmingham chapter of "Never Again", a student-led advocacy group which originated at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida after a mass shooting there was formed in the wake of Courtlin Arrington's death at Huffman High School. Birmingham students helped organize Birmingham's public demonstration for the 2018 March for Our Lives and 2018 National School Walkout. Superintendent of Birmingham City Schools Lisa Herring brought activists together into a "Student Advisory Committee" which hosted a town hall meeting at Parker High School in April to address gun violence.

See also

References

  • Robinson, Carol (January 23, 2018) "Vigil set for Birmingham father shot to death at his home; best friend charged in killing." The Birmingham News
  • Robinson, Carol (February 6, 2018) "Birmingham mayor 'tired, grieving, hurt, frustrated' after deadly weekend." The Birmingham News
  • Robinson, Carol (April 13, 2018) "Task force takes aim at homicides, violent crime in Birmingham metro area." The Birmingham News
  • Crain, Trisha Powell (April 26, 2018) "Birmingham students hold town hall to battle gun violence." The Birmingham News
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