Crime
Two Killed in Separate Overnight Shootings in Birmingham, Occurring Minutes Apart
Birmingham police are investigating two separate fatal shootings that occurred within minutes of each other on opposite sides of the city overnight, leaving two young men dead.
The first incident took place around midnight in the 1400 block of 57th Street in Ensley. Officers responded to reports of gunfire and arrived to find 22-year-old Xavier Colvert unresponsive inside his white pickup truck.
Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service personnel pronounced Colvert dead at the scene. Authorities marked at least six shell casings near the passenger side of the truck, indicating multiple shots had been fired.
Just 21 minutes later, at approximately 12:21 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 600 block of Eighth Terrace West following another report of gunfire.
Upon arrival, they discovered a vehicle riddled with bullet holes, having crashed into shrubbery and the front porch of a nearby home.
Police reported that more than two dozen shots were fired during this incident.
The driver of the vehicle, identified as 18-year-old Ronald Bennett Jr., was found lying on the ground outside the car and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities believe Bennett was a student at Huffman High School.
A passenger in the vehicle reportedly attempted to regain control after Bennett was shot, but the car veered off the road and crashed.
Multiple friends and family members gathered at the scene as investigators worked and a tow truck removed the vehicle from the property.
“Our heartfelt condolences go out to the Huffman High School community,” said Birmingham Police Officer Truman Fitzgerald.
These two deaths mark Birmingham’s ninth and tenth homicides of 2025. The city has already experienced eight homicides in January—two more than in the same month last year.
In total, Jefferson County has recorded 15 homicides so far this year, including the ten within Birmingham city limits.
Anyone with information related to these cases is urged to contact Birmingham Police detectives at 205-254-1764 or provide anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
The Jonesboro Police Department has identified the victim in a fatal shooting that occurred on the night of Friday, January 31.
Public Information Specialist Sally Smith confirmed that the victim has been identified as 24-year-old Derrick Johnson of Gilmore, Arkansas.
According to authorities, the incident was first reported at approximately 10:17 p.m. when a call was received regarding an unresponsive individual located in the 100 block of Daybreak Drive.
Responding officers arrived on the scene to find Johnson unresponsive in a parking lot.
Despite life-saving efforts, Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene.
Following an initial assessment, the Jonesboro Police Department officially classified the case as a homicide.
The department’s Criminal Investigation Division has taken over the investigation and is actively pursuing leads to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Law enforcement officials are urging anyone with information that could assist in the investigation to come forward.
Individuals can contact the Jonesboro Police Department at 870-935-5657. All tips will be handled with discretion, and anonymous reports are welcome.