Man Killed in Birmingham Convenience Store Shooting Possibly Over Facebook Dispute

A man was shot and killed inside a busy convenience store in southwest Birmingham on Tuesday afternoon, and police believe the motive could be a social media dispute.

The shooting happened just before 5 p.m. at the Big Boy Convenience Store on 2714 Pearson Ave. SW, according to Officer Truman Fitzgerald. When police arrived, they found the victim lying unresponsive with a gunshot wound in front of the store.

The victim was being taken to UAB Hospital by Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service when he died on the way, Fitzgerald said.

“We believe two adult males were involved in an armed confrontation,” Fitzgerald stated, referring to the initial investigation. “Both had guns, and one of them fired shots.”

Police are searching for the shooter and any others involved. Witnesses are urged to contact Crimestoppers at 205-254-7777, and they can remain anonymous.

“This was a tragic situation,” Fitzgerald added. “There were other customers inside the store when the shooting took place.”

Thankfully, no one else was injured. Witnesses have been cooperative with the police, helping them piece together what happened.

Detectives suspect that the shooting may have been sparked by a minor dispute. “This could have possibly been over a Facebook beef,” Fitzgerald said.

One of the men involved was already at the store when the other confronted him. The second man might have been at the store earlier and returned.

“This was a very personal confrontation, where someone possibly targeted another person and chose to confront them at a crowded convenience store during rush hour,” Fitzgerald explained.

He also pointed out that the incident reflects the city’s broader issues with violence, which are often personal in nature. “It highlights what Chief Thurmond and Mayor Woodfin have said: many of these incidents are personal and involve people who know each other,” he said.

Fitzgerald emphasized that this violent crime shows a deeper cultural issue. “This isn’t just a policing issue—it’s a community issue,” he said. “People are willing to confront others over minor things like a Facebook dispute.”

This shooting marks the third homicide in Birmingham since the weekend, following another incident at the Hush Lounge in Five Points South, where four people were killed and 17 others were injured.