Authorities have released the name of a man who died Monday night in a hail of gunfire outside a north Birmingham apartment complex.
The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as Durand Lamar Witherspoon. He was 22.
The shooting happened just before 9:30 p.m. in the 1200 block of 12th Street North. Witherspoon was found unresponsive between two apartment buildings and later pronounced dead on the scene by Birmingham Fire and Rescue at 10:03 p.m.
Two other victims were taken to UAB Hospital’s Trauma Center. One of them - a 14-year-old - has life-threatening injuries.
A witness told AL.com he heard arguing and then the gunfire. "Someone said, ‘I’ll put a bullet in your mother (expletive) head,’'' and the shots rang out. He said dozens of shots were fired, and he immediately called 911.
Birmingham police put out multiple evidence markers - at least 57 - to designate evidence left on the scene.
Grieving family members said they still don’t know much about what happened. The victim’s aunt, Shemeca Witherspoon, said her nephew left home Monday night with another friend and they apparently ended up at the Fountain Heights apartment building. She said they’ve been told some time of argument broke out but they don’t know what led to that argument. She said he wasn’t a problem child.
"We’re very saddened by this whole situation,'' she said. “Our family needs closure on this. We really do.”
Birmingham police spokesman Officer Rod Mauldin said preliminary information suggest the argument could have started during a gambling event. Investigators do not yet know how many shooters were involved. No suspects are in custody.
He acknowledged the high number of shots fired in a populated area was concerning. Such events, he said, affect the victims, their families and the community as a whole. "The main thing is we want people in the community to come forward,'' he said. “If you see something, say something.”
Witherspoon’s is Birmingham’s 28th homicide this year. Of those, five have been ruled justifiable and therefore aren’t deemed criminal by the Birmingham Police Department. In all of Jefferson County, there have been 43 homicides this year including the 28 in Birmingham.
Police are asking anyone with information to call Birmingham homicide detectives at 205-254-1764. Tipsters who want to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.