From The Trussville Tribune Staff Reports
BIRMINGHAM – UPDATE: The Jefferson County Coroner has identified the victim if 2016’s 50th homicide as 30-year-old Demarko Cortez Devan Harris. The cause of death has not been released at this time.
ORIGINAL: The Birmingham Police Department is conducting a homicide investigation after an incident on Friday, according to Lt. Sean Edwards.
This is the 50th homicide in Birmingham in 2016. At this point in 2015, the city had investigated 39 homicides.
The incident occurred in the 2100 block of Smith Avenue around 8:30 p.m. Officers responded to the location on a car fire, and upon arrival, the Birmingham Fire Department was in the process of extinguishing the fire. Once the fire was put out, the charred remains of an unknown black male was found lying outside the car on the ground.
Witnesses reported hearing a small explosion and noticed smoke coming form the area, which is when the fire department was notified. Detectives are unable to determine the cause of death at this time, and the victim has not been identified.
“It is unclear what happened here, but our detectives are determined to pursue every lead and are committed not to leave on stone unturned,” said Lt. Sean Edwards. “We owe it to the family.”