Man Fatally Shot in Birmingham’s Fifth Homicide in Five Days: ‘My Brother is No Longer Here

A 55-year-old man was fatally shot this morning after reportedly hearing a commotion outside and stepping out to investigate, according to Birmingham police.

Family members identified the victim as Renard “Keith” West.

“He was a big-hearted person,’’ said his brother, Rufus Ricks. “He’d give you anything he had.”

West is the latest victim in a violent week in Birmingham, marking the city’s fifth homicide in five days, the sixth in seven days, and the 80th this year.

“We don’t have any indication the suspect knew the victim, which is very alarming,’’ said Officer Truman Fitzgerald.

The incident occurred shortly after 4:30 a.m. when the city’s gunfire detection system, ShotSpotter, indicated several rounds fired in the 1000 block of Cotton Avenue. Police received a call reporting the shooting and arrived to find West in the front yard of a home. Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service pronounced him dead at the scene.

Fitzgerald stated that community members provided a description of the possible suspect, who was found walking near the crime scene and taken into custody without incident. The suspect was armed with a gun.

“We don’t know the motive,’’ Fitzgerald said. “The victim may have been trying to see what was happening. There may have been a commotion nearby, and he stepped outside his residence to check.”

The suspect was handcuffed, photographed at the scene, and then taken to police headquarters for questioning.

“We are extremely thankful the community stepped in and provided a description to our officers,’’ Fitzgerald said. “Today is a prime example of the power of the partnership between the community and the police department.”

West’s family said he was living at his cousin’s home and often slept on the porch.

“Somebody just killed a homeless man,’’ Ricks said. “It’s so hurtful.”

Despite his struggles with personal issues, West’s family emphasized that he would never hurt anyone.