Man shot dead in Birmingham’s second homicide of the day

A man was fatally shot outside his home in Ensley on Friday night.

The incident occurred just after 7 p.m. in the 1800 block of 31st Street in the Ensley Highlands community. 

Sgt. LaQuitta Wade reported that West Precinct officers were dispatched to the area following reports of a person down. Upon arrival, they found the victim unresponsive in front of a residence. He was later pronounced dead by Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service.

Wade explained that the victim had just stepped outside to speak with a family member when an unidentified suspect drove up to the house. “The victim and the suspect exchanged words before the suspect shot the victim and fled the scene,” Wade said.

No arrests have been made, and it remains unclear whether the victim and suspect were acquainted.

This shooting was the second homicide in Birmingham on Friday. Earlier that day, just before 12:30 p.m., another man was shot and killed in the 8300 block of Fourth Avenue North in East Lake, also following a verbal dispute that escalated.

Friday night’s incident marked the city’s 130th homicide of the year. Of those, nine have been classified as justifiable, and two occurred in previous years but the victims died in 2024. 

Across Jefferson County, there have been a total of 164 homicides, including the 130 in Birmingham.

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