UPDATE (June 2, 2023): According to the Birmingham Police Department, the death of Caleb Cornandus Whitt was ruled justified.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — The Birmingham Police Department is conducting a homicide investigation after a person was found dead in the back of an apartment complex’s parking lot Sunday.
According to BPD Assistant Public Information Officer Truman Fitzgerald, the victim was found in the 200 block of 3rd Avenue Southwest at University Crossings Apartments. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene and later identified as 17-year-old Caleb Cornandus Witt.
Birmingham City Schools confirmed Caleb Witt was a senior at Jackson Olin High School.
Fitzgerald said the preliminary investigation revealed there was a shootout between two groups about a half-mile to a mile away from where the victim was found. It was around noon when the BPD Communications Division received reports of gunfire in multiple locations.
“We feel as though the victim was struck by gunfire and was dumped in the back of these apartments,” Fitzgerald said. “We can point out that a south precinct officer while in route to this call observed a vehicle believed to have been involved in this incident. The officer initiated a traffic stop on that vehicle and has detained someone.”
Fitzgerald said the BPD is still working through what that vehicle and detained person’s involvement was in the victim’s death.