Man Arrested on Federal Gun Charges Identified as 'Potential Suspect' in Birmingham Triple Homicide, Records Show

A man under investigation in connection with a Birmingham triple homicide that claimed the lives of a 5-year-old boy and his mother has been arrested on unrelated federal gun charges.

The shooting occurred on Saturday, July 13, in the 1700 block of Indian Summer Drive, near Winewood Road, shortly before 5:30 p.m.

The victims were Arkia “Kia” Berry, 28, her son, 5-year-old Landyn Brooks, and Berry’s boyfriend, 28-year-old Eric Ashley Jr. The incident took place at the entrance of Echo Highlands Park on the city’s east side.

This tragic event was followed hours later by another mass shooting in Birmingham that resulted in four more deaths and ten injuries.

Police received a 911 call about a wreck and, upon arrival, found a sedan in front of a house next to the park. The vehicle had jumped a curb and stopped in front of the home, riddled with bullet holes. All three victims were found dead inside the car.

Witnesses reported seeing the shooter or shooters flee in another vehicle, and most of the shell casings were found in the park's parking area. Authorities believe the shooting was targeted but have not disclosed a motive.

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin addressed the violence on social media, urging people to avoid associating with those involved in criminal activities:

“I really want to implore those dating people in the game to not ride with them. Don’t be in the same car. Don’t allow your children to ride with them. Don’t say yes when they say come with me or take me to make this lick. It’s always supposed to be ‘no women, no children’ but y’all don’t have a code. Too many of y’all are down with killing women and children. The only thing worse than that are the people who are giving safe harbor for those who kill women and children.”

Federal court documents identify a 24-year-old Birmingham man as a potential suspect in the triple homicide. 205focus.com is not naming him as he has not been charged in the murders.

An ATF agent stated in a criminal complaint that he was informed on July 18 that the Birmingham man “was identified as a potential suspect” in the homicide that occurred five days earlier.

Birmingham police have made no arrests in the case and declined to comment on the federal complaint.

One of the cars involved in the homicide was a rental with Georgia license plates. Birmingham’s Crime Reduction Unit set up surveillance in east Birmingham, followed the suspect to a car wash, and arrested him. They seized the vehicle, and in plain view, officers saw an “AR-variant firearm.”

A search warrant was obtained, and officers confiscated a Kel-Tec PLR-16 semi-automatic pistol, a digital scale, and two baggies believed to contain cocaine.

The suspect, a convicted felon, is prohibited from legally possessing a firearm. He was initially booked into the Jefferson County Jail on July 19 and released on July 26. A probation revocation hearing is scheduled for next month.

The ATF then charged him with being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. He was taken into custody again by U.S. Marshals and remains in federal custody.