2009 Birmingham homicides

This is a List of Birmingham homicides in 2009. It includes homicide cases occuring 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.

As of November 18, 62 homicides have been reported in the city, putting Birmingham on pace for 70 in 2009. Based on the 2008 census estimate of 228,196 population, that represents 30.7 homicides per 100,000 population for the year. Birmingham had 88 homicides in 2008 (of which 82 were reported to the FBI as murders), 93 in 2007 (86 reported as murder), and a record of 141 in 1992. At this time in 2008 there had been 78 homicides.

Birmingham is averaging 5.8 homicides per month, or one every 5.2 days. There were 8 incidents in January, 4 in February, 5 in March, 7 in April, 9 in May, 3 in June, 8 in July, 3 in August, 5 in September, 5 in October and 6 so far in November. The longest stretch without a homicide was the 18 days between October 2 and 20. 6 homicides were reported on Sundays, 7 on Mondays, 14 on Tuesdays, 7 on Wednesdays, 8 on Thursdays, 9 on Fridays and 10 on Saturdays.

Of the 62 reported homicides, suspects have been identified in 42 cases, apprehended in 36, charged in 31 and convicted in none. 4 suspects killed themselves, and 2 deaths were ruled justifiable.

At least 48 of the 62 reported homicides were shootings, 3 stabbings, 2 vehicular collisions, 3 beating deaths, and 2 cases of child neglect or abuse. At least 10 resulted from the escalation of previous altercations, 1 was due to an accident which occurred while fleeing from a crime, 1 was an ambush by thieves on the run, 2 victims were apparently caught in crossfire, 2 deaths were ruled justified as self-defense, 4 were murder-suicides, 2 were the result of attempts to repossess a car, and the other cases had no reported motive. At least 29 deadly incidents occurred on the streets, 16 at private homes, 5 in yards or driveways, 2 in abandoned homes, 3 in parking lots, 3 in businesses and 1 in a park. 52 of the 62 victims were males.

Listing by date

1. January 5: Cornelius Mosley, 34, found shot at 1st Avenue South and Goldwire Street (map). His brother was also injured in the mid-day shooting, which erupted when the Mosley's pulled up to a stop sign and were assaulted from a nearby porch. Ronald Martin, recently released from the hospital after being stabbed, was arrested and charged with murder and attempted murder. [1]
2. January 8: Jason McClendon, 28, was shot after attempting to repossess a Cadillac on the 2000 block of 19th Court North with a partner (map). Reginald Jackson and his brother Jeremiah Jemmerson, confronted the two and threatened them with a rifle, prompting them to leave without the car. As they left, Jackson fired a shot which struck McClendon in the back of the head. Jackson turned himself in to police and confessed, saying that he intended to fire in the air over the truck. He was charged with capital murder. [2]
3. January 11: Charles Bevelle, Jr, 33, a coal miner from Hueytown, called Birmingham police and reported that he was the victim of a hit-and-run accident on I-20/59 North near Avenue I Ensley at about 3:00 AM (map). When police arrived, they found him shot to death. Charlie Joe "Coyote" Wilson, who had been involved in a fight with Bevelle the previous night at Hell Lovers Motorcycle Club in Fairfield, turned himself in to authorities on January 16 and was charged with intentional murder. [3]
4. January 13: Keith Shoemaker, 51, was struck by a car containing three burglary suspects being chased by Birmingham police on Parkway East at Shopping Center Drive (map). After the wreck, the suspects fled on foot and were captured. Cordarrious Davidson, Brandon Pauldin and Kenneth Baker have each been charged with murder as well as burglary. [4] (Note 1)
5. January 13: The burned remains of Leroy Langlais, 41, of Missouri, Texas were found in a charred car that had been impounded from East Birmingham on December 23, 2008. He had been shot and placed in the trunk, then moved to the back seat before the car was set ablaze. Langlais, who flew into Birmingham and rented a car, was reported missing by his wife. (Note 2) [5]
6. January 22: Sandy Doss, Jr, 29, was killed and another person injured in a shooting at 3556 43rd Avenue North (map). Investigators believe the incident to have been a drug-related robbery. Dion Williams was arrested and charged with capital murder and attempted murder. Another suspect was charged, but those charges were dismissed after further investigation. [6]
7. January 26: Jasper Dozier, 50, was shot to death in front of his house at 624 2nd Street Southwest (map). Randy Taylor turned himself in to police and was charged with murder. [7]
8. January 31: Carlos Garcia, 38, was found dead from gunshot wounds in a vehicle in the parking lot at 800 Gadsden Highway (map). Another man was found wounded in the vehicle. No arrest.
9. February 7: Geraldo Gonzalez, 31, found shot to death at 5018 18th Court North (map). Julio Cesar Romero, with whom the victim had an ongoing dispute, was identified as a suspect and charged. He initially fled to Georgia, but later turned himself in to Birmingham police. [8]
10. February 7: LeRico Beasley, 21, found shot to death on the 4100 block of Messer Airport Highway alley (map). No arrest. [9]
11. February 13: Demarshell Taper, 34, was shot to death in Arthur Shores Park in Druid Hills (map). Witnesses say she was killed by a man who walked with her into the park, talked with her, then shot her four times and fled. Carey Lamar Lee has been arrested and charged with murder. [10]
12. February 25: LaKiyah Stenson, age 1, died from "sequelae of neglect" according to the determination of the coroner. Her mother, Tangela Harris, 25, was arrested and released without charge in March. Prosecutors will determine if they will file charges after the coroner's final ruling in May. [11]
13. March 8: Edward Maurice Howard, 41, was found with severe head trauma after a fight on the 5000 block of 9th Avenue North (map). He died later at UAB Hospital. LaQuinton Wright and Daryl Bailey were arrested and charged with capital murder. Otis Lipford was arrested two months later. A fourth suspect, Ricky Parker, 51, has been charged but remains at large. [12]
14. March 15: Brennan Jackson, 39, was shot to death in the doorway of his home on the 1400 block of Avenue I Ensley (map). Melvin Houston has been arrested and charged with murder. [13]
15. March 18: George Cook, Jr, 34, was shot to death while sitting in his car on the 500 block of 17th Street Southwest (map). A silver Chevorlet was identified by a witness as the shooters' vehicle. No arrest. [14]
16. March 21: Melvin Howard, 49, found shot to death in the alley behind the 700 block of Albany Street in Wylam (map). Michael Benson was arrested September 1 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and charged with murder. [15]
17. March 22: Stanley Eatmon, 20, found shot to death on the 5300 block of Gordon Avenue Southwest (map). Brothers Vincent and Justin Johnson, who accompanied Eatmon in the armed invasion of a building, were charged in connection with his death. [16]
18. April 2: Shalanda Ford, 36. was found dead in an abandoned home on the 1300 block of Court R in Ensley (map). No arrest. [17]
19. April 7: Aaron C. Freeman, 26, was killed in a shootout on the 1600 block of 21st Place North in Druid Hills (map). A suspect was injured in the shootout and was taken to UAB Hospital. Freeman had served 5 years for the 2001 murder of Heman Daniels III. [18]
20. April 10: Leroy Yarbrough, 20, was shot and killed on the 300 block of 4th Terrace North in Smithfield (map). No arrest. [19]
21. April 15: John Orrin Morrison, 65, was found shot to death on a sidewalk on the 500 block of 82nd Street South in East Lake (map). Ralphael Hubbard and an unnamed juvenile suspect were arrested and charged with capital murder. [20]
22. April 23: Unnamed male found in a ditch along I-20/59 North near Arkadelphia Road (map). Investigators suspect the body may have been there for weeks. Jose Reyes, 30, was arrested and charged with capital murder. [21]
23. April 28: Romell Kiwan Wright, 17, was shot multiple times in the 200 block of Munger Avenue in Southwest Birmingham (map). The death was ruled justified as Wright was attempting to commit an armed robbery when he was shot by his intended victim. No charges were filed. [22] (Note 3)
24. May 3: Lonnie M. Vaughn, 44, found dead from multiple gunshot wounds in a wooded area near Westchester Drive and 1st Street Northwest (map). Martez Seay and Kandi Hawkins have been charged with murder. Seay was arrested quickly while Hawkins was taken into custody after she was found shot in the 2700 block of 40th Avenue North on June 15. [23]
25. May 5: Barbara Hill, 46, found dead from gunshot wounds after a reported domestic assault on the 400 block of West Smithfield Terrace (map). Her husband, Larry Hill, was also found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. [24]
26. May 6: Cory Deonta Cox, 21, was killed trying to mediate in a gunfight between two brothers in a courtyard on the 2300 block of 9th Avenue South in the South Town housing community where they were neighbors (map). One brother was wounded and taken to UAB Hospital. The other fled. [25]
27. May 12: Darryl Palmore, 17, was found shot to death in the 4700 block of 6th Avenue in Wylam (map). Bieniemy Luther was arrested and charged with murder. [26]
28. May 13: Linda "Toochie" Chapman, 37, was found dead in a vacant house on the 400 block of Theta Avenue in North Titusville (map). She had no known address, but often visited her six children being raised by her mother. She had not been seen by family members since February. No arrest. [27]
29. May 16: Jeremy Conner, 28, killed in a shootout on 8th Avenue North that left another man injured. Marius Copes was arrested and charged with capital murder and attempted murder. He claimed that the victims were attempting to rob him. [28]
30. May 22: Frank Wright, 57, of Schererville, Indiana was found shot to death in a stall of a car wash on the 5000 block of Messer Airport Highway (map). His car was later found partially burned on the 4100 block of 5th Avenue South. Anthony Lane was arrested and charged with capital murder. [29]
31. May 23: Earnest Lee Hamilton, 22, was shot while sitting on the porch at 7530 65th Courtway South in the Marks Village housing community (map). Terrance Covington has been arrested and charged with intentional murder. A second suspect reported by witnesses is also sought. [30]
32. May 28: David Dewayne Martin, 44, was killed and two other people were wounded at a shooting at the Tri Country Treatment Center at 1101 East Park Drive in Roebuck. The suspect, Darol Wayne Odell, was pursued from the scene and shot himself at the wheel of his car near Pine Hill Road and Tarrant Road north of Tarrant. The shooting is believed to have begun as a domestic dispute between Odell and a woman at the clinic who was not injured in the incident. [31]
33. June 10: DeRichard Mines, 22, died after being injured in a shootout at an apartment complex on the 2500 block of 21st Street Ensley (map). The fight apparently initiated from a domestic dispute. [32]
34. June 19: Marco Tyler, 28, was shot through the door of his home at 312 Memphis Street in Wylam (map). Michael Tolbert was arrested on June 23 and charged with capital murder. [33]
35. June 20: Kirwin King, 22, an engineering student at the University of Alabama, was shot on the 2500 block of Tempest Drive in Powderly after following a car there (map). He was attempting to retrieve items stolen from his sister when he was ambushed. Someone drove him to Princeton Baptist Medical Center where he was pronounced dead on arrival. No arrest. [34]
36. July 1: Janiyah Nicole Hale, 1, was found dead in her grandmother's home on the 300 block of 3rd Avenue Southwest (map). The death was ruled a homicide from blunt force trauma. Her father, Cory Rice, wanted already for failing to register as a sex offender for the statutory rape that produced the child, was taken into custody and later charged with capital murder. [35]
37. July 1: Mewburn Humphrey, 35, was shot to death inside his home on the 800 block of Center Way Southwest (map). Mohammad Ansari was named as a suspect, but was himself found shot in the head in a parking lot on the 4400 block of 5th Avenue South on July 20. [36]
38. July 8: Teresa Wright, 40, was found shot to death in an apparent murder suicide at 221 22nd Street Southwest (map). Talmadge Owens was also found dead at the scene from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. [37]
39. July 11: Cleve Clements, 28, was found stabbed in his bedroom at 2 4th Court North following a report of a domestic disturbance (map). He died later at UAB Hospital. Latonya Conner was found to have acted in self defense and no charges were filed. [38]
40. July 23: Ron-Drequez Cortez White, 20, was struck by a car on the 1100 block of Center Point Parkway (map). The driver left the scene of the collision. Tony Ferrell was found during a canvas of the area and charged with manslaughter. [39]
41. July 23: Rosetia Smith, 23, was shot in the head in her car with her three children and another adult in a parking lot near the intersection of Trax Drive and 41st Avenue North in Sayreton (map). The other adult drove her to UAB Hospital where she was pronounced dead. Laquintta Turk, part of a group of women in an ongoing dispute with a group Smith was part of, was arrested and charged with capital murder. [40]
42. July 25: Tiffany Smith, 27, was shot in the head outside the home of Charlie Coleman at 3925 Howard Avenue in Wenonah following a domestic argument with him that began at her home in Forestdale (map). Coleman, believed to have been the shooter, returned to the scene and shot himself. [41]
43. July 27: Harold Brown, 20, was killed after Brandon Mason found him and three others attempting to jump start his stolen 1985 Buick Regal at the corner of 54th Street and Park Avenue Southwest (map). Mason left and returned with a gun and opened fire. Another man was injured in the shooting. Mason was charged with capital murder. Montague Wilson and Demetrius Moore were charged with auto theft. [42]
44. August 3: Brandon McGuire, 23, was shot while standing in a driveway on the 5900 block of Jesse Owens Avenue. No arrest. Another fatal shooting the same night in Brighton is believed to have been a retaliation for McGuire's murder. [43]
45. August 14: Johnathan Lockett, 18, of Midfield, was found shot to death in his car on the 2900 block of 28th Way Southwest. No arrest.
46. August 30: Kelvyn Felder, 21, was stabbed to death at Club Zen on Morris Avenue. Harold Wilson of Bessemer left the scene and later turned himself in to police and was charged with capital murder. [44]
47. September 1: Samuel Craig, 22, was shot during an argument at a residence on the 900 block of 14th Street Southwest across from Woodward Park. Samuel Hendricks was arrested and charged with murder. [45]
48. September 11: Clarence Anthony Bandy, 49, was found dead from head trauma in a shed he occupied behind his family's home at 1812 13th Way Southwest. No arrest. [46]
49. September 19: Elbert Ringo, 59, was killed by a rifle shot to the head during an argument with his wheelchair-bound roommate at their home at 7624 5th Avenue North. James Davis was arrested and charged with murder. [47]
50. September 22: Christopher Woods, 31, was one of two people shot in a gunfight over a drug deal at 7th Street and Avenue W in Tuxedo Heights. Christopher Norris was charged with capital murder. [48]
51. September 22: Josie Grimmett, 33, was shot during an argument at 600 Princeton Avenue Southwest. Marcus Massey has been arrested and charged with murder and attempted murder. [49]
52. October 2: Walter Cook, 60, was stabbed to death in a domestic assault. His wife, Betty Cook, was arrested and charged with murder. [50]
53. October 20: Michael Turner, 26, was killed during a robbery and left in an abandoned apartment at 1017 Tuscaloosa Avenue Southwest near 10th Street Southwest. Cedric Sumpter was arrested and charged with capital murder. [51]
54. October 23; Patrick Eldridge, 32, was shot in his back yard on Annette Street and his 1994 Chevy Astro van was stolen. No arrest. [52]
55. October 29: David Leon Williams, 47, was shot near the intersection of 25th Street and Avenue E in Ensley. He was found dead a block away shortly afterward. [53]
56. October 30: Darius Davis, 22, was killed in a gunfight at the Life Styles Detail Shop on the 800 block of 20th Street Ensley. The shooter, believed to have been the target of a robbery, was also injured and was taken to UAB Hospital. It is likely he will not be charged. [54]
57. November 2: Jacqueline Callen, 42, was found dead in an abandoned apartment on the 100 block of St Charles Avenue Southwest. No arrest. [55]
58. November 3: Tiffany Edwards, 19, was shot following a fight on the 400 block of 1st Street West. She was taken to UAB Hospital where she later died. Natalya McArthur was arrested and charged with murder. [56]
59. November 5: Darrell Deangelo Jackson, 45, was shot in the stomach during an argument over a cell phone in a parking lot at 331 3rd Avenue Southwest. Alan Albert turned himself in and was charged with murder. [57]
60. November 9: Robert Tucker, 23, was found shot to death in his back yard at 4044 38th Avenue North.
61. November 16: Ryan Thomas Glenn, 25, was found shot to death in a Nissan Maxima on the 7700 block of 4th Avenue South in East Lake. No arrest. [58]
62. November 17: Unnnamed victim found dead outside a house at 1318 46th Place North in Kingston. [59]

Notes

1. The death of Keith Shoemaker was ruled accidental by the coroner, but occured during the commission of a crime and resulted in murder charges. The Birmingham Police Department is not counting Shoemaker's death in its count, but the Birmingham News is.
2. The death of Leroy Langlais occurred in December 2008, but was ruled a homicide by the coroner's office in 2009. Neither the Birmingham Police Department nor the Birmingham News are including Langlais' death in their 2009 counts.
3. The Birmingham Police Department does not count homicides toward their total if they have been ruled justifiable by police or prosecutors.

Responses

The annual Martin Luther King, Jr Day gun buy-back sponsored by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference brought in 15 firearms at $50 per gun.

Police chief A. C. Roper led a series of prayer walks in the Graymont, East Birmingham and West End areas. During the walks Roper greeted residents and asked their help praying for God's help in ending crime.

An anti-youth violence event sponsored by the Parents Against Violence Foundation and the Birmingham Park and Recreation Board was held at the Central Park Recreation Center on May 30.

Another prayer walk was held at Southtown Court on July 4 with police officials and members of the Church of the Highlands.

On September 23 Southern Christian Leadership Conference president Calvin Woods, flanked by two of Josie Grimmett's sisters, called for ministers and community leaders to speak out more strongly against violence.

Another prayer walk was held in Wylam on October 17.

References

• Breaking News from the Birmingham News

External links

• Birmingham Homicides 2009 Google map by Toraine Norris for the Birmingham News

See also

• List of homicides in 2009
• Birmingham homicides by year
• Crime in Birmingham