BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A deadly shooting in downtown Birmingham Friday evening has left one man dead and a woman injured, prompting swift police action that led to the arrest of a suspect the following morning.
The incident occurred around 5:50 p.m. on Friday, August 8, in the 1400 block of 1st Avenue North, an area authorities describe as a hotspot for ongoing criminal activity. Birmingham Police say they received multiple calls reporting gunfire in and around the vicinity.
When officers arrived, they found a man and a woman suffering from gunshot wounds near a gas station. Birmingham Fire and Rescue responded to the scene, providing emergency aid before transporting both victims to UAB Hospital. The man, later identified as Tj Arnold, suffered life-threatening injuries and was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. The woman sustained non-life-threatening injuries and is expected to recover.
Investigators believe an interaction between the two victims and the suspect escalated, leading to the gunfire. While specific details of the confrontation have not been disclosed, police confirmed the shooting was captured on video, which played a role in identifying the suspect.
On Saturday morning, August 9, at approximately 9 a.m., Birmingham Police took the suspect into custody. The individual’s identity and charges have not yet been released pending formal booking.
Birmingham Police Officer Truman Fitzgerald noted that the location has been a frequent focus for law enforcement due to repeated complaints about crime in the area.
“Our command staff has been receiving numerous complaints in the general area of criminal activity and other types of activity taking place,” Fitzgerald said. “We’ve deployed numerous resources to the area in an attempt to curtail the criminal activity. This was a problem our command staff was aware of and was actively working to address.”
Fitzgerald added that additional police resources will be deployed to the area in the coming days to ensure public safety.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the shooting to contact the Birmingham Police Homicide Unit at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777. Tips leading to an arrest could result in a cash reward.