Justin Lee Henry Grant Obituary, Death – A violent evening in Birmingham on Thursday saw three men killed and another critically injured in three separate shootings over less than three hours. The city’s 2024 homicide count now stands at 144, equaling its most lethal year in recent history—2022—and edging closer to the all-time record of 148 murders set in 1933. Birmingham Police emphasized the need for community cooperation to combat the escalating violence.
First Shooting: A Targeted Ambush
The bloodshed began at 3:51 p.m. at the Park at Wood Station apartments on Wood Station Drive in Woodlawn. Police found 33-year-old Justin Lee Henry Grant inside an SUV riddled with bullets. Grant, who appeared to have been ambushed, was pronounced dead at 4:11 p.m. Investigators believe multiple shooters fired 15 to 20 rounds, possibly more, in what authorities described as a brazen and targeted attack.
Friends and family gathered outside the crime scene in shock and grief, but no suspects have yet been identified, and no arrests have been made.
Second Shooting: A Complex Scene in Inglenook
The second incident occurred at 6:30 p.m. in the Inglenook neighborhood on 41st Place North. Responding officers discovered a man lying unresponsive in the driveway behind an abandoned house. He was pronounced dead at 7 p.m. A search of the area led police to a second victim inside the house, who was pronounced dead at 7:10 p.m.
Adding to the complexity, two other men were detained nearby, and a stolen vehicle was recovered at the scene. Authorities are working to determine the roles of those involved, including whether the victims had been suspects or exchanged gunfire. Police have said the investigation will require extensive time to piece together the events.
Third Shooting: Gunfire on 25th Street S.W.
At 6:45 p.m., while officers were still processing the Inglenook crime scene, West Precinct officers were alerted to gunfire by a ShotSpotter report on 25th Street S.W. They arrived to find a man unresponsive in the roadway, surrounded by shell casings. The victim was rushed to UAB Hospital for emergency surgery and remains in critical condition. Details about this shooting are scarce, and authorities are seeking more information.
A Call for Action
Officer Truman Fitzgerald of the Birmingham Police Department (BPD) called the spate of violence evidence of “violent offenders showing no regard for the lives of our community members.” Echoing Interim Chief Michael Pickett, Fitzgerald urged residents to report tips to help law enforcement act swiftly against those responsible. “We need to make it uncomfortable for violent offenders in our city,” he stressed.
Birmingham’s Escalating Violence
The city’s rising homicide numbers reflect a troubling trend. Birmingham had 135 homicides in 2023, and before the recent surge, the most recorded in recent history was 141 in 1991. With a population of nearly 197,000 today—significantly smaller than the 269,000 residents in 1933—this level of violence is particularly alarming.
Police have released no information about potential suspects in any of the shootings. They urge anyone with information to contact detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.