1 brother shot, another held after sibling dispute in Birmingham’s Norwood community

A brother is dead and another is in custody following a dispute Monday in Birmingham’s Norwood community.

North Precinct officers were dispatched just before 5:00 PM to the 3400 block of 17th Avenue North on a trespassing call.

Once in the area, they found out there was much more.

A man was unresponsive in the yard of a house. Officer Truman Fitzgerald said it was immediately obvious he had been shot.

He was pronounced dead at the scene by Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service.

The victim was found a few houses away from the initial rape call. Fitzgerald said the shots may have been fired where the victim was found.

“We believe there was a domestic disturbance at a residence between a brother and another brother,” Fitzgerald said. “There was some kind of fight and a brother shot his brother.

The shooter remained at the scene and was detained for questioning. Once the investigation is complete, the evidence will then be presented to the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office to determine if criminal charges will be filed.

“From speaking with our patrol officers at the scene, they are familiar with the family and the victim,” Fitzgerald said. “It is not known what could have caused this brother to kill his own brother.”

“It’s just a horrible situation,” he said. “You hate to see a family deal with a loved one killing another loved one.”

“It goes to show you that our officers never know what to expect when they show up for their calls,” Fitzgerald said.

The victim is the 51st murder in Birmingham this year. Of these, five were found to be justifiable and are therefore not considered criminal.

In all of Jefferson County, there were 74 homicides, including the 51 in Birmingham.

Anyone with additional information is asked to call Birmingham homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.