Birmingham Police say 13 children have been killed in the city this year, 12 by shooting

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – 2022 has been a devastating year for Birmingham when it comes to homicides and gun violence. Of the 132 homicides to date, the Birmingham Police Department said 13 were children under the age of 18 and 12 of those victims died from gunshot wounds.

We think of the victims, their families and friends this holiday season as we remember the young lives taken too soon.

“We have homicides in our city, but it’s different…it’s very different when it’s an innocent child,” Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin said just hours after the city lost her 13th child because of violence this year.

Audriana Pearson, 12, was spending a sleepover with friends this week when someone fired into her house. Now his mother Tyraneeka Weir is planning a funeral instead of Christmas.

“My daughter, my baby, my only little girl,” she said. “I wouldn’t want anyone to experience this pain. It hurts. My heart is torn.

His grief is all too familiar to several families in the Birmingham area.

Yasmine Wright, 16, died nearly a year ago when she was caught in the crossfire on her way home from work. The teenager was remembered as a good student who had just entered hers.

“When she came back, she would bring the atmosphere to life,” said Wenonah High School band director Dewayne Moore. “He was a very sweet spirit, and you know…I really liked having him around.”

A few months later, the BCS community would lose another student to gun violence: 16-year-old Jamie Gibson, who police say was shot while driving near Overton Road.

“I want Jamie to be remembered as one of the smartest kids I’ve ever known,” said Elevate Birmingham program manager Samantha Nelms. “Just so smart, so smart, hardworking, honest, brave.”

An infectious ability to make others smile. This is how the mother of 17-year-old Dwaine Thomas remembered her son when he was shot and killed weeks before he graduated.

“There was nothing he wouldn’t do for his family at 17,” Deana Casco said. “He loved baseball. It was his dream. He told me one day that he was going to build me a house out of baseball.

Moriah Quib-Marquez, 14, was on her way to school in Ossie Ware Middle when bullets started hitting the SUV she was driving in.

The director had only known her for a few months, but says Moriah had an impact on her in such a short time.

“If she saw you in the lobby, she’d want a hug, and she’d come over and give you a hug,” director Wander Riley said. “She just wanted to help, and she wanted to be there, and just really a larger-than-life personality.”

“I will miss you very much and rest easy,” said friend of 13-year-old Jaylon Palmore, another Ossie Ware Middle student who was shot and killed while sitting on his porch.

His friends described him as a shy child who excelled in school and was happy to help others.

“One of the students said he was the type of student to give the shirt off his back and he did it for one of his classmates,” BCS Superintendent Dr. Mark Sullivan.

These are just a few of the young victims of the past year. Other children killed by the violence in Birmingham include Javarious Reed, 17, Ty’nez Durden, 17, Kavas Jemison, 16, and Desmond Burt Jr, 3.

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