Police Shooting Near UAB St. Vincent’s Leaves One Man Dead in Downtown Birmingham

BIRMINGHAM, AL (BuzzReport) — A police shooting near UAB St. Vincent’s Hospital in downtown Birmingham left one man dead Thursday afternoon after an encounter that began with a reported assault at a nearby McDonald’s, according to Birmingham Police Chief Michael Pickett.

Pickett said Birmingham police were called into action at approximately 12:35 p.m. Thursday, August 13, after an officer was flagged down and informed that a man had allegedly assaulted an employee at the McDonald’s on University Boulevard near UAB St. Vincent’s.

The officer located the man a short time later and attempted to detain him, but according to Pickett, the man refused to comply with the officer’s commands. The encounter then escalated into a foot pursuit, with the officer chasing the man toward the parking deck at UAB St. Vincent’s.

Once inside the parking deck, the officer deployed a Taser in an effort to stop and take the man into custody.

However, investigators say the situation quickly became more dangerous.

Pickett said the man attempted to take the officer’s Taser during the struggle. At that point, the officer drew his department-issued firearm and fired, striking the man.

The man was seriously wounded and was later pronounced dead.

The shooting unfolded in an area near one of Birmingham’s major medical centers, bringing a significant police presence to the hospital and surrounding area as investigators began working to determine exactly what led to the deadly confrontation.

The officer involved is a seven-year veteran of the Birmingham Police Department, Pickett said. In accordance with department procedures, the officer has been placed on administrative leave while the investigation into the shooting moves forward.

The Birmingham Police Department’s Homicide Unit is handling the investigation. Once the department completes its investigation, the case will be turned over to the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office for review.

That review will be an important next step in determining whether the officer’s use of deadly force was legally justified and whether any additional action is warranted.

Authorities have not released the identity of the man who was killed, and additional details surrounding the reported assault, the struggle over the Taser and the moments immediately preceding the gunfire remain under investigation.

Officials emphasized that the investigation remains active, and additional information is expected to be released as investigators complete their work.