Birmingham Police Chief Scott Thurmond on Tuesday addressed a spate of violence in the city that left four men dead in 36 hours.
“This is unacceptable, and Birmingham deserves better,’’ Thurmond said in a press statement.
“This is very disturbing not only for our officers and detectives, but also for our city and our community members,’’ the chief said. “The Birmingham Police Department works diligently to protect all of our community members and to prevent crime from taking place whenever possible.”
The bloodshed began in Monday’s predawn hours when 30-year-old Devarta Dedre Thomas, who pleaded guilty in 2016 to the shooting death of his mother in Hoover, was found dead in the 300 block of 74th Street North.
Thomas, initially charged with murder, had served prison time after pleading guilty to manslaughter in the shotgun slaying of 40-year-old Tawanda Thomas. Police at the time of her killing said the victim had gone to her son’s apartment to lecture him about ‘doing right.’
“She wanted him to get a job, stop using drugs and stop hanging out with some of the individuals he was hanging out with,’’ former Hoover police Capt. Gregg Rector said in 2016. “Basically, a mom lost her life while trying to convince her son to live a better, more productive life.”
Police have not announced any arrests in Devarta Thomas’s homicide.
Later Monday, 39-year-old James Lee Washington was shot in the 300 block of First Avenue North. Investigators said the shooting happened inside an apartment he shared with suspect, who is now in the hospital under police guard.
Kenneth Earl Harris Jr., 42, was shot inside a Wylam home Monday night, and was pronounced dead several hours later at UAB Hospital. Police said someone opened fired into a Buffalo Street home where Harris lived, with a possible motive of revenge or retaliation against someone.
The, midday Tuesday, a man was found fatally shot on Jesse Owens Avenue in the Roosevelt City area.
“We believe three of the four homicides were acquaintance-based in that the victim and suspect knew one another,’’ Thurmond said. “Investigators are just beginning the investigation of today’s homicide, therefore little is known about the relationship between the victim and suspect at this time.”
The chief noted that all four homicides took place in residential areas and two of the four occurred inside a residence. The other two homicides happened in the street.
“In one of those cases, the homicide potentially occurred elsewhere with the victim being dropped off at the location where police found him,’’ Thurmond said.
“It is extremely difficult for police to prevent or intervene before a crime occurs behind the closed doors of a residence,’’ he said.
“As a result of these recent homicides,’’ the chief said, “four families have been devastated by the unexpected loss of their loved one in senseless acts of violence.”
Birmingham has had 21 homicides so far this year, compared to 31 on this date in 2022.
Countywide, there have been 25 homicides in Birmingham, including the 21 in Birmingham.
Anyone with information on any of the slayings is asked to call homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
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