The authorities in Birmingham, Ala., are looking for leads and a motive in a daytime capturing at a metropolis firehouse this month that left one on-duty firefighter lifeless and one other wounded.
Few particulars have emerged because the July 12 capturing, although the Birmingham police chief, Scott Thurmond, has described it as a “targeted attack.”
“It’s extremely unusual for someone to come target one of our fire stations,” the chief mentioned at a news convention on the day of the capturing. He added, “I find it extremely troubling.”
The firefighter who was killed, Jordan Melton, 29, had graduated from the recruit academy at Birmingham Fire and Rescue only a month earlier, mentioned town’s mayor, Randall L. Woodfin.
“We’re exhausting every resource to find answers and justice for Jordan’s loved ones,” Mr. Woodfin mentioned in a press release. “Jordan paid the ultimate price for his service to our city. We will not let that sacrifice be in vain.”
According to the police, a suspect — or suspects — shot the 2 firefighters inside Fire Station 9, within the Norwood neighborhood of Birmingham. The assault, which was reported round 8:30 a.m., appeared to have taken place close to the station’s bay doorways.
Mr. Melton died days after the capturing, on July 17. A funeral for Mr. Melton will probably be held on Wednesday.
Jamal Jones, the opposite firefighter who was shot, was mentioned to be in critical situation on the day of the capturing. Additional data on his situation was not instantly out there. Efforts to succeed in the Birmingham Police Department, the fireplace service and the mayor’s workplace on Sunday had been unsuccessful.
Birmingham firefighters honored their co-workers who had been attacked within the days after the capturing, and mourned Mr. Melton.
“You could not be around Recruit Melton and not smile,” Stan Frierson, a battalion chief, mentioned on Twitter. “I am known as a person who doesn’t smile often, but every time we spoke, it would end with him saying, Chief, smile.”
Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama mentioned a reward totaling $45,000 was being provided for ideas resulting in an arrest within the capturing.
The Birmingham Police Department’s North Precinct, which incorporates Norwood, reported 17 murders from Jan. 1 to July 17, in contrast with 13 in the identical interval in 2022.
Source: www.nytimes.com