List of homicides in 2010

This is a List of homicides in 2010, including homicide cases reported throughout the Birmingham District. A total of 18 homicides have been reported in the area for the year, as of March 16, 2010. Note that a "homicide" refers to the cause of death as determined by a medical examiner, not to the crime of murder as charged by prosecutors and determined by plea or trial.

Calhoun County

1. January 24: Dariontae Brooks, 22, died from a gunshot to the head in an Anniston apartment. No arrest. (report)

Etowah County

1. January 18: Nita Gay Denson, 63, was found dead from blunt force trauma in the bedroom of her Gadsden home. Her son, Justin Denson, was arrested on I-55 near Memphis, Tennessee after using one of her credit cards. He was charged with capital murder. (report)
2. March 7: Christopher Lashun Hoyt, 17, was shot in the back during a gunfight following a party on the 1400 block of Park Avenue in Gadsden. He died later at Gadsden Regional Medical Center. Gregory Hamilton, identified by witnesses as the shooter, was taken into custody. He was charged with marijuana possession with further charges pending investigation. (report)

Jefferson County

12 homicides as of March 16:

Birmingham

6 homicides as of March 16: See List of Birmingham homicides in 2010 for details.

Bessemer

1. January 10: Marquis White, 32, was shot at the wheel of his car and crashed into a convenience store on the 800 block of Hall Avenue. No arrest. (report)

Fairfield

1. March 4: Jacquelyn Woodhouse, 66, was killed in a vehicular collision on Valley Road near U. S. Steel's [{Fairfield Works]]. Andrew Toney, who was injured, was charged with murder after witnesses reported that he was speeding. (report)

Gardendale

1. January 20: The body of Chase Alexander Woods, 17, was found near an abandoned strip mine off Pumpkin Center Cut-Off in Quinton (Walker County). Because authorities believe his death was caused at a residence in Gardendale, the investigation was conducted by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. Dustin Blake Legrande has been charged with murder. (report)

Lipscomb

1. January 31: Fernando B. Pruitt, 30, was stabbed to death in a fight with his girlfriend at his home at 509 Patton Court. Pruitt was taken to UAB West and then to UAB Hospital before he was pronounced dead. Cherell Monique Averhart, who was 5-months pregnant at the time, was charged with murder. (report)

Midfield

1. March 3: Demico Howard, 35, was shot to death at the instersection of Rayfield Drive and Midway Street. No arrest. (report)

Tarrant

1. March 15: James Pryor III, 34, was killed at his girlfriend's home on the 1200 block of Jackson Boulevard. Her ex-boyfriend found them there and killed Pryor. His car was observed leaving the area and stopped. He was arrested after blood was seen on his clothing. (report)

St Clair County

1. February 11: An unnamed male was shot and killed by a homeowner after he and two others broke into his home in the Trails End community near Moody. The three were wielding baseball bats and assaulted the homeowner. Four surviving suspects involved in the break-in have been charged with murder. (report)

Tuscaloosa County

1. February 15: The death of 2-month old baby brought to DCH Hospital in Tuscaloosa with fatal injuries was classified as a homicide after the autopsy revealed blunt force trauma as the cause of death. (report)

Walker County

1. March 5: The remains of Richard Douglas Harris, 63, missing since February 12, were found near Baltimore Road outside Cordova by a motorist. James David Hollie and Brian Michael Smelley were arrested and charged with murder. (report)