Community Witnesses Play Key Role in Solving Birmingham Homicide Cases Amid Rising Gun Violence

Community Helps Birmingham Police Solve More Homicide Cases

More people in Birmingham are coming forward to help the police arrest suspects and close a large number of homicide cases. However, Birmingham Police Chief Scott Thurmond warns that it's not time to celebrate yet because gun violence is still on the rise.

The police have credited the community for their help in solving the case of 21-year-old Asia Poole, who was shot and killed on August 20. Thanks to tips from witnesses, police have arrested five suspects connected to the shooting.

In another case this month, a witness helped police arrest a suspect in a seven-year-old murder case. The victim, a 57-year-old woman, had been stabbed to death, but there wasn't enough evidence to make an arrest until now, when the witness came forward.

Chief Thurmond, who is part of the Crime Stoppers Board, shared that he has seen a big increase in the number of people providing tips that lead to more arrests. Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama, a nonprofit organization, offers cash rewards for anonymous tips that help solve serious crimes.

"The number of cases solved and arrests made due to tips from citizens has increased dramatically this year," said Thurmond. "We're closing more cases by making arrests."

He encouraged citizens to continue helping by contacting Crime Stoppers, where they can stay anonymous, get a reward, and assist law enforcement in making Birmingham safer.

More Arrests, But Challenges Remain

According to Birmingham Police Officer Truman Fitzgerald, homicide detectives have made arrests in 44 cases this year as of August 23. While it's not clear how many of these arrests were due to witness tips, Chief Thurmond emphasized that the number is "significant."

Residents seem to be responding to calls from city leaders to share information anonymously. Three months ago, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin asked the public to help police remove dangerous individuals from the streets, especially after a 62-year-old man in a wheelchair was killed, and two children were injured in shootings.

"I need the public to help us take shooters and killers off the street," Mayor Woodfin urged in mid-May.

Despite the progress, Chief Thurmond stressed that there's no reason to celebrate until the number of murders decreases significantly. He pointed out that while they are making arrests and solving cases, people are still losing their lives, and families are being devastated.

For example, on August 13, a 61-year-old man became Birmingham's 100th homicide victim of 2024. Last year, the city didn't reach 100 homicides until October. So far in 2024, 108 people have been killed.

Chief Thurmond shared how heartbreaking it is to see the impact of violence on families. "We've got mothers saving voicemails because it's the last time they ever heard their child's voice," he said.

Gun Violence Continues to Escalate

The day before the interview with Chief Thurmond, a fight at a Birmingham apartment complex turned deadly, resulting in the shooting death of 21-year-old Asia Poole and injuring another man. Videos of the incident posted on Facebook showed the fight escalating to gunfire, leading to Poole's death.

Police recorded 168 shots fired during the incident. Witnesses described the scene as "something out of a movie," with multiple shooters, some wearing masks and using high-powered guns.

Chief Thurmond expressed frustration with the mentality of some individuals involved in gun violence. "For some people, killing isn't a big deal," he said. He explained that many feel they need to carry guns because everyone else has one, leading to a dangerous escalation.

In addition to making arrests, the police are also trying to understand the root causes of gun violence. Chief Thurmond said it's troubling that small disagreements are leading to deadly outcomes, and it makes him want to "beat his head against the wall" as a law enforcement leader.