On the Street

Ala. Police Stop Potential Shooting at Murder Victim's Funeral

May 9, 2022

During a funeral for a 19-year-old killed in a Birmingham shooting, Brighton police spotted a driver with a gun in his lap who is accused of trying to run down an officer.

By Carol Robinson

Source al.com

Brighton, AL, police are trying to identify a suspect who is accused of driving up to the funeral of a Birmingham murder victim with a gun in his lap.

Jefferson County law enforcement officers thwarted a potential shooting at a funeral for a Birmingham homicide victim.

Officials are now asking for the public’s help in identifying a suspect who they say tried to run over a police officer during the ordeal.

The funeral for 19-year-old Davion Marcell Hickley, who was killed April 25 in a shooting that injured three others at a large gathering in the 800 block of Third Avenue West, was held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 30, at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Brighton.

Brighton police and Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies were conducting a security detail at the funeral because officers received word that someone was going to “shoot up” the church where the funeral was being held, said Brighton police Lt. Kenneth Hooton.

Just before noon, a Black male driving a silver in BMW 750 li pulled into the front entrance of the church.

He was stopped by Brighton Police Chief Larry Woods. Woods approached the front driver’s window and spotted a handgun in the driver’s lap.

The driver was given verbal commands by multiple officers to put the vehicle in park and turn it off, Hooten said. Instead, the driver put the vehicle in reverse and slowly back out into Main Street.

One of the JCSO deputies managed to get the front driver’s door open and gave the driver more commands to put the vehicle in park. The driver then put the vehicle in drive and sped off driving toward a Brighton officer.

The Brighton officer fired shots into the vehicle. The BMW left traveling southwest onto Main Street. Deputies gave chase but lost sight of the vehicle.

The vehicle was later recovered in the 1200 block of Church street of Brighton and the driver had fled the scene.

Anyone with information on the driver’s identity is asked to call Hooten at 205-425-8934.

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