From The Tribune staff reports
BIRMINGHAM — The Birmingham police detective shot and wounded outside of Ruth’s Café early on Friday, April 24, was identified by the department as a 19-year veteran of the force.
The Birmingham Police Department identified the detective as Mikiel Smith, 47, currently of the Investigations Bureau.
Smith was wounded during a shootout at Ruth’s Café on 24th St. N., in Birmingham, following the restaurant calling the police department to report a disturbance at around 8:20 a.m. According to Ruth’s Café, the subject, who was identified by the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office on Monday as Larry Dejuan Henderson, 26, of Birmingham, refused to pay for his meal. The staff at the café told Henderson to leave, who refused.
The authorities were then called, which brought Smith to the scene. As Smith arrived, Henderson, who remained outside the café, promptly engaged. Smith was wounded in the initial burst, but he was able to return fire, striking the subject.
Birmingham Fire and Rescue arrived and transported Smith to UAB Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Henderson was subsequently pronounced dead by UAB Hospital staff at around 9 a.m. The coroner’s office stated that the cause of death was suicide.
The Alabama State Bureau of Investigations will take the lead in the investigation.