A deadly Thursday night drew Birmingham closer to breaking a 91-year record number of homicides.
Three shooting deaths brought the 2024 tally to 143 homicides. Eleven of those homicides have been ruled justifiable. Still, the city may surpass the 1933 record of 148 homicides.
Within three and a half hours Thursday evening, three men were found shot and killed.
Just before 4 p.m., Justin Grant, 33, was found in a vehicle at The Park at Wood Station apartment complex with multiple gunshot wounds. Homicide detectives believe there were numerous shooters, but no arrests have been made.
State Rep. Juandalynn Givan (D-Birmingham), who has previously called Birmingham a 'disaster zone," pre-filed a bill for the 2025 legislative session to impose additional penalties for those illegally possessing a firearm in the city.
"This bill only affects the City of Birmingham and the reason for that is there's a war taking place in parts of this town," Givan said. "We need to give the courts more power to put the people shooting this city apart in jail and keep them there."
Givan's bill mirrors the federal law and would outlaw the sale or possession of a stolen firearm or ammunition in Birmingham.
Anyone found guilty could serve up to 20 years in state prison.
In October, Givan demanded the resignation of Birmingham Police Chief Scott Thurmond.
"The Birmingham Police Department has said this area is a focal point for crime," Givan said at the time. "Why in hell aren't they doing something about it? Either the chief can't do the job or he's unwilling to do the job, or someone at city hall is preventing him from doing his job. Whatever the case, the chief is ultimately responsible."
Two weeks later, Thurmond announced he would retire effective November 29.
Michael Pickett was named interim police chief.
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