From Tribune staff reports
BIRMINGHAM — Police have charged seven people in the kidnapping, assault, sodomy and murder of a young Jasper woman in what Birmingham Police Chief Scott Thurman called a “deplorable and sickening” case.
Thurman told the media that police would try to shield the family of the victim by not releasing some of the details of the crime, portions of which he said were on videos made by the suspects.
“The facts of this case are deplorable and sickening,” Thurman said. “Saddest of all, they were made public by the suspect’s decision to video tape portions of this deplorable act.”
Police announced on Wednesday that they had obtained arrest warrants for seven suspects in connection to the murder of 20-year-old Mahogany Jackson. On Monday, February 26, 2024, Jackson was discovered shot and killed in the 1700 block of Laurel Avenue.
According to Thurman, family members told police that Jackson sent a text on Sunday, the day she was reported missing.
“Mahogany sent a text to a family member that she had been kidnapped,” Thurman said.
Officers responded to an apartment complex on Sunday night but were unable to locate Jackson. Thurman said a witness who was not a suspect led police to Jackson’s body early the next day.
At approximately 2:19 a.m. on Monday, police located a deceased person on the side of the road at 17th Street SW and Laurel Avenue.
Officers found the Jackson lying unresponsive on the side of the road, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Birmingham Fire and Rescue Services arrived on the scene and pronounced her deceased.
While police believe Jackson was moved to different locations, Thurman could not say how long she endured the ordeal before she was killed.
“It’s hurtful to know that seven people could participate in such vile acts,” Thurman said. “This is one of the most heinous acts that I’ve seen in my career.”
Police credited the community with providing them with information that allowed officers to move quickly in solving the crime and making the arrests.
“With assistance from the community, detectives were not only able to locate Mahogany Jackson’s body but detectives took seven suspects responsible for Mahogany’s murder into custody within 48 hours of the investigation,” Thurman said.
Thurman said detectives presented case information to the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office. After an assessment of the information, detectives obtained arrest warrants for the following suspects:
1. Giovonnie Clapp, 23, of Birmingham, Alabama. Felony murder/kidnapping 1st, sodomy 1st; Assault 2nd with injury.
2. Blair Green, 25, of Birmingham, Alabama. Felony murder/kidnapping 1st/sodomy 1st.
3. Teja Lewis, 25, of Birmingham, Alabama. Felony murder; Assault 2nd with injury/weapon.
4. Francis Harris, 25, of Birmingham, Alabama. Capital Murder/sodomy 1st; Capital murder/kidnapping 1st.
5. Si’nya McCall, 23, of Bessemer, Alabama. Felony murder/kidnapping 1st/sodomy 1st.
6. Jeremiah McDowell, 18, of Bessemer, Alabama. Capital murder/sodomy 1st; Capital murder/kidnapping 1st.
7. Brandon Pope, 24, of Birmingham, Alabama. Capital murder/kidnapping 1st; Capital murder/sodomy 1st.
Thurman said all suspects are in the custody of the Jefferson Jail where they are being held without bond.