From The Tribune staff reports
BIRMINGHAM — The Birmingham Police Department is investigating the fifth homicide of the year.
According to the Birmingham Police Department, a body was found by a passerby who called 911 at approximately 11:10 a.m. on Friday, January 7. The body was burned beyond recognition on the 2800 block of Slayden Avenue.
West Precinct officers were dispatched to the intersection of Slayden Avenue at Birmingport Road. Upon arrival, officers found evidence that a homicide had occurred.
“The victim will be identified upon notification to the next of kin,” Officer Truman Fitzgerald said.
It was not immediately clear how long the body had been there, and a cause of death was not immediately released.
“Currently, there is no suspect(s) in custody,” Fitzgerald said.
Birmingham’s first homicide of the year occurred two hours into the new year.
Fernando Jose Cruz-Soto, 20, 0f McCalla, was shot during a reported assault in the 2300 block of 4th Avenue South in Birmingham on Saturday, January 1, at approximately 2:03 a.m.
“A Birmingham Police officer, who was working in an off-duty capacity near the area, observed a male lying in a parking lot suffering from an apparent gunshot,” Fitzgerald said. “The preliminary investigation suggests the shooting may have stemmed from a fight between several individuals.”
Birmingham’s second homicide investigation of 2022 followed hours after the first on Saturday, January 1, at approximately 8:03 a.m.
Timothy Dean Pinson, 32, of Birmingham, sustained gunshot wound injuries during a reported assault in 800 block of Cable Car Court in Birmingham.
The city of Birmingham’s third murder investigation of 2022 occurred on Tuesday, January 4, at approximately 11:30 a.m.
Michelle Denise Kemp, 40, was found unresponsive in the driver’s seat of a vehicle stalled in the roadway. The vehicle Kemp was found in was vehicle riddled with bullets.
“The preliminary investigation suggests the suspect(s) fired multiple rounds into the victim’s car before fleeing in a small sedan,” Sergent Rodarius Mauldin said. “The suspect(s) are still at large.”
The fourth homicide of 2022 Birmingham is investigating took place on Tuesday, January 4, at approximately 3:10 p.m.
Leeco Whittington, 24, of Birmingham, was killed when two unknown suspects approached Whittington and another victim on foot and began firing shots at them. The suspects fled the scene in an unknown silver sedan.
Whittington succumbed to his injuries at UAB Hospital, and the second victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Authorities ask if there is anyone who has information pertaining to the case(s), please contact the BPD Homicide Unit at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
The story will be updated when more information is available.