2008 Birmingham homicides

This is a List of Birmingham homicides in 2008. 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.

With 6 homicides up to January 11, the city is on pace for 200 in 2008. Based on the 2006 census estimate of 229,424 population, that represents 87.2 homicides per 100,000 population for the year. Birmingham had 93 homicides in 2007, 109 in 2006, and a record of 135 in 1994.

Birmingham is averaging 16.9 homicides per month, or one every 1.8 days. The longest stretch without a homicide was between January 4 - 9.

Of the 6 recorded homicides, suspects have been reported identified in at least 4 cases, apprehended in 4, and charged in 2.

5 of the 6 reported homicides were shootings, 3 of which occurred on the street, 1 in a back yard and 1 in a private home. The other was a beating death which occurred in the victim's home. 3 of the victims were female and 3 were male. One case appeared to be a domestic dispute, two resulted from arguments, one appeared to be a home invasion, one a case of mistaken identity, and the remaining case had no reported motive.

Listing by date

1. January 2: Winifred J. Bryant, 24, was forced into a car at gunpoint outside an apartment complex on the 200 block of 52nd Street North in Woodlawn. She was shot in the head when she tried to esacape Her car was in the street with the engine running and her 7-year-old son inside. Arthur Lee Kirksey was charged with capital murder, and arrested while in hiding at his mothers house three days later. [1]
2. January 3: Grace A. Garner, 85, found bludgeoned to death in her home at 7735 1st Avenue South in East Lake. The front door was forced open and the home ransacked. No arrest. [2]
3. January 3: Dameon Harris, 28, found shot on the 1300 block of 29th Street North. Another gunshot victim was admitted to Physicians Medical Center Carraway and may have been involved in the shooting. A woman was taken into custody, but has not been charged. [3]
4. January 4: Evangelist Caffery D. Woods, 49, shot in her SUV parked behind a duplex on the 7400 block of Second Avenue South. Her mother, Mattie Mae Woods, 88, was shot several times as well, but survived. No arrests. [4]
5. January 9: Lonzel Davis, 57, shot in his home at 537 Antwerp Avenue in Gate City. A suspect has been taken into custody. [5]
6. January 10: Charles Benson, 38, shot behind a house at 817 5th Street in Pratt City. A suspect has been taken into custody. [6]

References

• Breaking News from the Birmingham News

See also

• List of Jefferson County homicides in 2008
• Birmingham homicides by year