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 4 homicides up to January 5, the city is on pace for 292 in 2008. Based on the 2006 census estimate of 229,424 population, that represents 127.3 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 24.8 homicides per month, or one every 1.3 days. The longest stretch without a homicide was between December 30 and January 2.
Of the 4 recorded homicides, suspects have been reported identified in at least 2 cases, apprehended in 2, and charged in 2.
3 of the 4 reported homicides were shootings, all of which occurred on the street. The other was a bleating death which occurred in the victim's home. 3 of the victims were female and one was male. One case appeared to be a domestic dispute, another a gunfight, a third appeared to be a home invasion and the fourth had no evident motive.
Listing by date
- 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]
- 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]
- 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]
- January 4: Unnamed woman, found shot on the 7400 block of Second Avenue South. Another woman, shot several times while sitting in the same car, was admitted to UAB Hospital. [4]
Responses
References
- Breaking News from the Birmingham News