Justin Lee Henry Grant Obituary, Death; – Three individuals lost their lives, and another sustained critical injuries in three distinct shootings that occurred in Birmingham within a span of less than three hours on Thursday night.
This surge in violence has raised the city’s homicide count for 2024 to 144, equaling Birmingham’s most lethal year in recent history, which was recorded in 2022. Prior to 2022, the highest number of homicides documented in recent years was 141 in 1991. The city concluded 2023 with a total of 135 homicides.
Birmingham’s historical peak for homicides was in 1933, with 148 recorded killings. Currently, the city has a population of just under 197,000, whereas in 1933, it had a population of nearly 269,000.
“Violent offenders have demonstrated a blatant disregard for the lives of our community members,” stated Officer Truman Fitzgerald, a spokesperson for the Birmingham police. “In line with the sentiments expressed by Interim Chief Michael Pickett, we must create an environment that is uncomfortable for violent offenders in our city.”
“This initiative begins with our community continuing to provide valuable tips, which they have done in numerous investigations this year,” he added, “and the Birmingham Police Department fulfilling its role by acting swiftly on these tips to apprehend these violent offenders.”
On Friday, the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office identified one of the deceased individuals as 33-year-old Justin Lee Henry Grant. The identities of the other two homicide victims remain undisclosed, according to Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates.
The series of violent incidents commenced at 3:51 p.m. at the Park at Wood Station apartments, located in the 6000 block of Wood Station Drive, off First Avenue South in Woodlawn. Grant was discovered inside an SUV that had been riddled with bullets and was pronounced dead at the scene at 4:11 p.m.
Fitzgerald indicated that the victim appeared to have been ambushed, potentially by multiple assailants, with reports suggesting that at least 15 to 20 rounds were fired, if not more.
Numerous friends and family members gathered outside the crime scene, visibly distressed and embracing one another. As of now, no arrests have been made in connection with this audacious and targeted attack. At 6:30 p.m., officers from the East Precinct responded to reports of gunfire in the 4400 block of 41st Place.
