Police Chief Thurmond speaks on recent homicides in Birmingham

Birmingham Police Chief Scott Thurmond held a news conference to address the significant rise in homicides in the city. Since the start of the year, 28 criminal homicides have taken place, a significantly higher figure compared to 10 during the same period in 2023. The chief detailed some of the cases and their current status in the investigation, expressing concern over the involvement of drugs and frequent familial or acquaintance links between suspects and victims.

Among the cases, Thurmond highlighted the homicide of Phong Nguyen who was killed at a party at an AirBnB property. The party had been advertised to several people, resulting in strangers arriving at the scene. Drugs were found inside the property, and the investigation is ongoing. Another case involved Lamar King, found dead from a gunshot wound at Princeton Baptist Medical Centre. Kelvin Andra Edwards Jr was arrested and charged in connection with King’s death.

Notably, in many of these homicides, the victims were also suspects in precursory crimes or involved in illicit activities. For example, Maleak Chandler, a suspect in a 2023 homicide, was shot and killed while inside a stolen vehicle. He had apparently been lured there by his ‘friends’ who wanted his gun and ended up killing him. Another instance was Eliazin Dominguez-Solis, shot and killed at a business which was an unlicensed nightclub. He had a “significant amount of narcotics on his person when he was killed,” according to Thurmond.

Thurmond addressed the predicament that hinders solving homicide cases – lack of witness cooperation. “That is probably the biggest factor that is prohibiting us from solving the majority of these cases,” he emphasized. He noted that in two of the cases highlighted, arrests were made due to witnesses coming forward. Thurmond urged reluctant witnesses who wish to remain silent to at least share exterior home and business camera footage with the police through Birmingham Connect.

In conclusion, Thurmond stressed the continued efforts by various law enforcement units in the city to keep the streets and neighborhoods safe. Despite the rise in violent crimes, the police force is unwavering in its dedication towards peace and order in the city. He pleaded for the public’s cooperation to curb the ongoing violence, labelling their silent voices as “just as bad as those people out here committing the violence.”