'Tired of it': Birmingham grapples with four overnight shootings as homicide rate rises
by Valerie Bell
Wed, November 13th 2024 at 4:30 PM
Updated Wed, November 13th 2024 at 9:59 PM
Four separate shootings in Birmingham from Tuesday night into early Wednesday morning (abc3340.com)
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBMA) — From 7 p.m. Tuesday night, to before 2:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, Birmingham Police responded to four different shootings in the city. In some cases, teenagers were victims.
While a 17-year-old boy is left fighting for his life, three people, including a teenage girl are dead.
The homicide total in the city of Birmingham this year, passes what it was last year. According to data from the Birmingham Police Department, there have been 138 homicides in the city so far in 2024. That includes the 11 that have been ruled justifiable.
People in the community are tired of the violence.
81-year-old Christopher Moon sat on the porch of his East Lake home Wednesday morning. Moon enjoys getting out of the house and watching cars go by. He came outside after watching the news, which he watches every day. That is when he heard about the four different shootings overnight, including one just streets over from where he lives.
"Everybody's getting tired of it. The neighbors around here, is older age people, we don't like it," said Moon.
Around 2 a.m. 14 rounds were fired in and outside a home on 68th Street South, where people were gathering. The victim killed in that shooting was identified as 50-year-old Arlington Jerome Daniel.
"I know a lot of people and I hope they hear me, they need to slow up," said Moon.
Another man, Bernard Smith, reacted to the latest violent incidents in the city.
"Definitely sad situation, hate to see it come to that in a beautiful city, hopefully it's something we can clean up in the future to make it a better place for adults, especially younger youth growing up," said Smith.
Two shootings Tuesday night involved youth.
A young man and teenage girl were found shot to death inside a vehicle. A car riddled with bullets could be seen in front of an abandoned house on Princeton Avenue Southwest.
Also, near Woodlawn High School, a 17-year-old boy was taken to the hospital. Police believe shots were fired into the vehicle he and his friend were in after an argument stemming from a basketball game.
"I think it would help if we had more things around the city to keep youth out of trouble," said Smith.
Also happening Tuesday evening, Birmingham Police Department said a person was shot on 26th Street North. The investigation revealed so far, that it is believed the person drove a few blocks over, leading to that person crashing their vehicle near a Family Dollar store. There are no updates released about that person's condition.
"It's just disgusting, it gets old," Moon said, reacting to all the shootings.
By ABC 33/40's count, there have been 138 total homicides in Birmingham this year. Last year, there were 135. In 2022, there were 142.
"There's gotta be something done about it," said Moon. "You can't even walk to the store, scared someone might murder you or rob you. If I go to store, I get in my car and drive, I don't walk."
In all four of those unrelated shootings, no one is in custody. Anyone with any information is asked to contract Birmingham Police Department or Crime Stoppers. You can remain anonymous.
Wednesday afternoon, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin released a statement on social media.
The statement reads:
In the span of a few hours in our city:
A man and woman were found fatally shot inside a car. Investigators believe shots occurred from inside vehicle.
A group of people got into an argument after a basketball game. Guns were drawn and a teen was seriously injured.
A dice game was taking place inside a home. After a verbal altercation a man was fatally shot.
There's a troubling thread through all these tragedies and similar tragedies we've talked about this year – isolated disputes leading to gunfire.
Birmingham Police cannot be in your vehicles, in every parking lot, and in your homes. BPD is working around the clock to keep you and your families safe but we as community members bear the same responsibility.
Before things get too heated, please, we implore you to cool down, talk it out, or remove yourself from the situation. Gunfire cannot – must not – be the immediate response to an argument.
I’m deeply saddened by the loss of life and it pierces my heart heavily every time one of our youth is shot. My sympathy and prayers are with all of the victims families.
Death should not be the final result of every disagreement.
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