Media Release 5- Homicide Investigation- Westley Street
Homicide Investigation
The Birmingham Police Department is conducting a homicide investigation. The incident occurred on Thursday, December 28, 2023.
The victim has been identified as:
Otis Jones Jr., (44), B/M, of Birmingham, Alabama.
On Thursday, December 28, 2023, at approximately 4:55 a.m., East Precinct officers along with Birmingham Fire and Rescue (BFR) personnel were dispatched to a House Fire call at a residence in the 1000 Block of Westley Street.
NOTE: Westley Street is near Birmingham’s Inglenook Community and the City of Tarrant.
East Precinct officers and BFR personnel arrived on the scene when they observed Tarrant Fire Department (TFD) personnel on the scene extinguishing the flames.
TFD personnel rescued the victim(resident) from the residence and then rushed him to UAB Hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Fire investigators classified the fire as an Arson investigation.
On Friday, January 5, 2023, the victim succumbed to his injuries. The Jefferson County Medical Examiner’s Office performed an autopsy on the victim; the autopsy revealed the victim’s manner of death was Homicide.
Tarrant Police Detectives and Birmingham Police Arson investigated the Arson. BPD Arson detectives learned the residential property was in Birmingham.
The preliminary investigation has revealed the victim was at his residence with an adult female family member when the victim’s house became engulfed in flames. The family member is a person of interest in this investigation.
On Wednesday, January 10, 2024, BPD Arson detectives learned the person of interest was in custody for separate charges in a neighboring jurisdiction. Detectives will interview the person of interest.
We will provide updates as they become available.
Anyone who has information in the case, please contact B.P.D.’s Homicide Unit @ 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers @ 205-254-7777.
Crime Stoppers pays tipsters cash rewards of up to $5,000 for their tips.
This is Birmingham’s 3rd murder investigation of 2024.
The Birmingham Police Department adheres to FBI Uniform Crime Reporting guidelines set for all law enforcement agencies across the United States. FBI Uniform Crime Reporting guidelines do not require law enforcement agencies to include justifiable death investigations in the total homicide investigations counts.
**The information is based on a preliminary and ongoing investigation, which continues to evolve as investigators interview witnesses, review physical and electronic records, and analyze forensic evidence. The Department’s understanding of the facts and circumstances may change as additional evidence is collected and analyzed**
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Media Release 5- Homicide Investigation- Westley Street
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