Shootings in Avondale, Ensley and Gate City leave 2 dead, 1 wounded

From The Trussville Tribune staff reports

BIRMINGHAM –A violent Sunday has left two people dead and one wounded in Birmingham.

A 4-year-old boy was caught in the crossfire outside of his Ensley home around 2:30 p.m. and died of a gunshot wound. The shooting took place in in the 1600 block of 31st Street. The child was transported to Children’s of Alabama hospital where he was pronounced dead. 

Photo via Birmingham Police Twitter

“The suspect went to the home of the victim and confronted some adults about a cell phone that both parties’ kids were arguing over,” Sergeant Bryan Shelton said.  “Both parties began shooting and the victim was struck during the exchange of gunfire.  The suspect fled the scene.”

“How many life moments in this child’s life were lost tonight,” Shelton said. “You can’t count the number. Birthdays, graduations, first this or that, none will be seen by this mother or the family. Precious moments lost over a cellphone. You can’t make sense of that.”

In Avondale, a teenager was shot and transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries, according to the Birmingham police. That incident occurred near 2nd Avenue South and 43rd Street. No one has been charged in that shooting.

A 28-year-old man was shot and killed at Joppa Court and Georgia Road in Gate City on Sunday afternoon following an argument. The victim died in route to the hospital and the suspect had fled the scene before police arrived.

According to Shelton, a preliminary investigation revealed the victim got into a physical altercation with the suspect. The suspect at some point retrieved a firearm and shot the victim. The suspect then fled the scene in a vehicle. Apparently, neither the suspect nor the victim had been seen in the area prior to Sunday. Both were unknown to residents. At this time police no further information on the suspect.

“With both parties being unknown to residents, a key part for the investigation is discovering what the relationship was between the two individuals and why they were in the neighborhood.” Shelton said.