From The Tribune staff reports
BIRMINGHAM – Martinez Laudell Smith, 21, of Birmingham, was shot and killed in the early hours of Sunday morning, April 9, 2023.
“Officers drove to the 200 Block of 8th Avenue West when they observed two adult males lying in the roadway suffering from an apparent gunshot wound,” Public Information Officer Truman Fitzgerald said. “A North Precinct officer applied a tourniquet on one of the males. Birmingham Fire and Rescue personnel arrived on the scene and transported both males to a local area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
“While officers were at the original scene investigating, they learned a private vehicle transported a third adult male victim to Princeton Hospital with a gunshot wound injury.”
Martinez Laudell Smith was pronounced dead at Princeton Baptist Medical Center at 3:11 a.m.
“The preliminary investigation suggests that a party was being held at a private event center in the 200 Block of 8th Avenue West,” Fitzgerald said. “A fight broke out inside of the event center; the parties then began fighting in the street. Shots were exchanged and the three victims were struck by gunfire.
“Currently, we believe all three victims were involved in the physical altercation,” Fitzgerald added. “One of the gunshot victims, with non-life-threatening injuries, is in police custody at the hospital and has been named as a suspect in this homicide.”
If there is anyone who has information pertaining to the case, please contact the B.P.D. Homicide Unit @ 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers @ 205-254-7777.
Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers through the Birmingham Police Department’s Mobile App on Android or IOS devices. Updates will be provided as information becomes available.
This is Birmingham’s 28th murder investigation of 2023 with two justifiable death investigations).
The Birmingham Police Department adheres to FBI Uniform Crime Reporting guidelines set for all law enforcement agencies across the United States. FBI Uniform Crime Reporting guidelines do not require law enforcement agencies to include justifiable death investigations in the total homicide investigations counts.
**The information is based on a preliminary and ongoing investigation, which continues to evolve as investigators interview witnesses, review physical and electronic records, and analyze forensic evidence. The Department’s understanding of the facts and circumstances may change as additional evidence is collected and analyzed**