Man Found Shot to Death in Southwest Birmingham: Investigation Ongoing

A man was found shot and killed on a street in southwest Birmingham on Wednesday afternoon.

Police officers were called just after 5 p.m. to the 1700 block of Laurel Avenue S.W. where a person had been reported shot. When officers arrived, they found the man lying unresponsive on a dead-end street. Emergency services confirmed he had died at the scene.

According to Sgt. LaQuitta Wade, early investigations suggest that the victim had an argument with an unknown person before being shot. The shooter had already left the area by the time police arrived.

Shortly after the incident, another person arrived at UAB Hospital with a gunshot wound. However, officers aren't yet sure if this second case is connected to the shooting on Laurel Avenue.

Several people gathered near the crime scene, worried that the victim might be a loved one. They waited anxiously behind the yellow crime scene tape, some crying and praying, hoping for answers. Police said they didn't have enough information at the time to identify the victim.

The investigation is still in its early stages, and no arrests have been made yet.

This marks Birmingham's 114th homicide of the year. Of those, eight have been ruled as justified killings. Two of these deaths occurred in earlier years, but the victims passed away in 2024. Across Jefferson County, there have been 146 homicides, including the ones in Birmingham.

Anyone with information is urged to contact investigators at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.