A teenage boy was shot and killed in west Birmingham early Monday night as onlookers recorded the deadly shooting in what police said was “another senseless act of violence” in the city.
Officers were responding to an unrelated call around 6 p.m. Monday when one officer heard gunshots in the 1200 block of Tuscaloosa Avenue SW, said Birmingham police spokesman Sgt. Rod Mauldin.
The officer found the victim, identified as 17-year-old Dwaine Thomas, laying between two cars and suffering from a gunshot wound, Mauldin said.
The officer also saw the suspect, who tried to flee the scene.
The officer engaged in a brief pursuit with the suspect, who got away after fleeing in a small blue sedan.
The suspect is still at large as of late Monday evening. Police said details on the suspect were forthcoming.
“We have good information on who that person is,” Mauldin said. “The sad reality is there were a lot of people out here today that observed the incident that took place.”
Dwaine is one of nine Birmingham City Schools students killed this year in the city limits. Additionally, four other teens have died in gun violence countywide.
He was a senior at G.W. Carver High School and was set to graduate in several weeks.
“We have suffered the tragic loss of a student in Birmingham City Schools, and our hearts are saddened,’’ said Superintendent Mark Sullivan. “He had already completed his graduation requirements and was scheduled to march in a couple of weeks.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Dwaine’s family and his family of teachers and friends at Carver,’’ Sullivan said. “Grief counselors will be at the school for students and staff on Tuesday.”
A fight broke out between young men at the scene, according to the preliminary investigation.
Dwaine was “getting the best of the suspect” in the fight when the suspect opened fire.
Witnesses to the shooting recorded the deadly incident, police said.
Mauldin encouraged witnesses to come forward, adding that police were aware that many people observed the shooting.
“We’re out here right now, you don’t need to wait till tomorrow, you need to talk today because we’re here today,” he said.
Mauldin described the deadly shooting as “another senseless act of violence where we had some adults watching this .. it’s ignorance ...pure ignorance today that cost a young man his life.”
The teen is Birmingham’s 52nd homicide this year and the second that took place on Monday.
Earlier, about 9 a.m., an 83-year-old man was found slain in his west Birmingham home.
Of those, five have been ruled justifiable and therefore aren’t deemed criminal. In all of Jefferson County, there have been 67 homicides, including the 52 in Birmingham.
Anyone with information is asked to call Birmingham homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
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