Skip to content
NOWCAST WVTM 13 6:30pm Newscast
Watch on Demand
Advertisement

Birmingham pushing for harder penalties in illegal exhibition driving after deadly shooting

A Bessemer man was arrested in connection to 19-year-old Ja'Kia Winston's death.

Birmingham pushing for harder penalties in illegal exhibition driving after deadly shooting

A Bessemer man was arrested in connection to 19-year-old Ja'Kia Winston's death.

I GOT A CHANCE TO WATCH SOME OF THE SURVEILLANCE VIDEO FROM SOME OF THE BUSINESSES NEARBY IN THIS PARKING LOT. YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF CARS PARKED HERE AND PEOPLE JUST HANGING AROUND. RIGHT NOW WE’RE NOT SHOWING YOU THE VIDEO BECAUSE THE BUSINESSES SOME OF THEM HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO SHARE THAT VIDEO WITH US AT THE MOMENT, BUT JUST BY LOOKING AT THIS PARKING LOT HERE BEHIND ME. YOU CAN SEE THE TIRE MARKS HERE. YOU CAN ALSO TELL THAT EXHIBITION DRIVING HAPPENS HERE QUITE OFTEN. WE HAVE ONE HERE AND THERE’S STILL SOME FRAGMENTATION LEFT IN THE BREAD. IT’S BECOME TOO NORMAL NOW FOR COUNTER MANAGER, BRIAN CLARK AND HIS BUFFALO ELECTRIC SUPPLY CO-WORKERS TO FIND BULLET HOLES AND SHELL CASINGS. PARKING LOT. WE RECENTLY PAINTED THE THE BUILDING AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE IT CHIPPED OFF THE PAINT SO WE KNOW THIS ONE IS RECENT AFTER THREE AM SUNDAY BIRMINGHAM POLICE WERE CALLED TO SECOND AVENUE NORTH NEAR THE 800 BLOCK. THEY FOUND 19 YEAR OLD. JAKIAH WINSTON DEAD IN THE PARKING LOT POLICE. SAY A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WERE DOING BURNOUTS ONE OF THE DRIVERS LOST CONTROL HITTING ANOTHER CAR. THAT’S WHEN THE SHOOTOUT STARTED FOR OTHER PEOPLE WERE SHOT. THEY WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BY PRIVATE CAR BUFFALO ELECTRIC SUPPLY SURVEILLANCE. WHO CAUGHT IT ALL THERE WERE SOME RETURN FROM THE VIDEO. WHERE THE GUYS WERE RETURNING FIRE FROM THE GUY THAT ACTUALLY DID THE INITIAL SHOOTING AND OUR BUILDING TOOK A COUPLE HIT ANOTHER EMPLOYEE SHARED THIS VIDEO WITH US. TILL I OF SOMEONE DOING BURNOUTS IN THE SAME PARKING LOT, BUT IN BROAD DAYLIGHT LOOK AT THE PARKING LOT LOOK AT THE ROAD. IT’S LOOKS LIKE TALLADEGA DRAG STRIP. MAYOR RANDALL WOODFIN SAYS CURRENT LAWS AREN’T STRONG. TO PUNISH PEOPLE, BUT HE WILL WORK WITH LAWMAKERS TO CREATE TOUGHER LAWS AND QUOTE AND THIS PUBLIC MENACE IN THE MEANTIME WOODFIN HAS COME UP WITH PENALTIES OF HIS OWN LIKE SUSPENDING SOMEONE’S LICENSE FOR A YEAR IF CAUGHT AND HAVE THEIR CAR IMPOUNDED FIRST AND SECOND TIME OFFENDERS WOULD BE LOOKING AT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN FINES. HE ALSO WANTS PEOPLE WHO SHARE EXHIBITION VIDEO WITH POLICE TO RECEIVE A REWARD. CLARK SAYS HE’S GOT AN IDEA OF HIS OWN. I DEFINITELY WOULD LIKE TO SEE A HEIGHTENED PATROL. I DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY COULD DO OTHER THAN DOING THAT AND NOW AN EIGHT-MONTH-OLD BOY HAS TO GROW UP WITHOUT HIS MOTHER BECAUSE OF AN ACCIDENT CLARK SAYS GOT OUT OF HAND. THAT’S JUST TRAGIC LADY LOST HER LOST HER LIFE FOR NO REASON. THE MAYOR SAYS EXHIBITION DRIVING ISN’T JUST HAPPENING IN ONE PART OF TOWN. THIS IS WHY HE WANTS TO WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO PUT STRIPS DOWN TO KEEP IT AS A DETERRENT NOW AT LAST CHECK BIRMINGHAM POLICE SAY THEY HAVE SOMEONE IN CUSTODY AND BELIEVE THAT THERE WERE MULTIPLE SHOOTERS IN THIS INCIDENT. THIS IS WHY THEY’RE ASKING PEOPLE WITH INFORMATION TO COME FORWARD. SO CALL BIRMINGHAM POLICE OR CRIME STOPPERS FOR NOW. WE ARE LIVE IN BIRMINGHAM. I’M MAGDAL
Advertisement
Birmingham pushing for harder penalties in illegal exhibition driving after deadly shooting

A Bessemer man was arrested in connection to 19-year-old Ja'Kia Winston's death.

A 19-year-old woman was shot and killed early Sunday morning during a car exhibition on 2nd Avenue North in Birmingham. Now city leaders are calling for stiffer penalties for these types of reckless driving. Learn more in the video above.Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin issued the following statement Sunday:"Exhibition driving is out of control in the city of Birmingham. It is not isolated to one part of town but occurring across the city on public streets and too often in private parking lots where no one has granted permission. Exhibition driving is dangerous and it is a crime."Early this morning during such an incident, a driver lost control, hit another vehicle and in the violent aftermath, five people were shot. One of those people died. This is not acceptable and will not be tolerated. "The City of Birmingham will work immediately with our state lawmakers to obtain tougher laws to end this public menace."This will include pushing for penalties requiring:"If you are caught as an exhibition driver, "Your license be suspended for one year"The vehicle should be impounded and the driver fined $1,000 for the first offense and $2,000 for the second offense"Video evidence of drivers engaged in reckless and dangerous exhibition driving be admissible for law enforcement to use in investigations and to hold the driver responsible"People who video such activity and turn it to law enforcement should be eligible for a reward"People participating as passengers and encouraging such actions should also be held accountable"As a city, the Department of Transportation will take steps to put more strips down on streets as a deterrent. We will continue to coordinate with state and local law enforcement to pursue and prevent this lawless activity."We will consider any additional actions possible to reduce the risks of this criminal activity which endangers lives."On Monday, police say they arrested 23-year-old Ronald Demetrius White, of Bessemer, in connection with the Sunday morning shooting death of 19-year-old mother Ja'Kia Winston. Anyone with information should call Birmingham Police at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.

A 19-year-old woman was shot and killed early Sunday morning during a car exhibition on 2nd Avenue North in Birmingham. Now city leaders are calling for stiffer penalties for these types of reckless driving. Learn more in the video above.

Advertisement

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin issued the following statement Sunday:

"Exhibition driving is out of control in the city of Birmingham. It is not isolated to one part of town but occurring across the city on public streets and too often in private parking lots where no one has granted permission. Exhibition driving is dangerous and it is a crime.

"Early this morning during such an incident, a driver lost control, hit another vehicle and in the violent aftermath, five people were shot. One of those people died. This is not acceptable and will not be tolerated.

"The City of Birmingham will work immediately with our state lawmakers to obtain tougher laws to end this public menace.

"This will include pushing for penalties requiring:

"If you are caught as an exhibition driver,

  • "Your license be suspended for one year
  • "The vehicle should be impounded and the driver fined $1,000 for the first offense and $2,000 for the second offense
  • "Video evidence of drivers engaged in reckless and dangerous exhibition driving be admissible for law enforcement to use in investigations and to hold the driver responsible
  • "People who video such activity and turn it to law enforcement should be eligible for a reward
  • "People participating as passengers and encouraging such actions should also be held accountable

"As a city, the Department of Transportation will take steps to put more strips down on streets as a deterrent. We will continue to coordinate with state and local law enforcement to pursue and prevent this lawless activity.

"We will consider any additional actions possible to reduce the risks of this criminal activity which endangers lives."


On Monday, police say they arrested 23-year-old Ronald Demetrius White, of Bessemer, in connection with the Sunday morning shooting death of 19-year-old mother Ja'Kia Winston.

Anyone with information should call Birmingham Police at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.