Birmingham Police Officer Killed, Another Wounded in Downtown Shooting
A Birmingham police officer was fatally shot downtown Sunday morning and another critically wounded.
Sgt. Wytasha Carter, 44, of Birmingham died in the early morning shooting. Carter served at the Birmingham Police Department since 2011 in a number of roles, including West Precinct and as a school resource officer.
One suspect is in custody, while another suspect and the wounded officer are being treated at UAB Hospital. The officer is in critical condition.
The officers were investigating car burglaries downtown about 2 a.m., according to police Chief Patrick Smith. One officer was undercover, the other in uniform. Police approached one suspect, patted him down, and found what they believed was a weapon, Smith said in a statement to reporters early Sunday. The suspect armed himself and fired on the two officers, killing one and wounding the other.
Smith says the one suspect, 18, is in custody, while the other suspect, 31, is in the hospital. The unnamed officer is still in critical condition.
Mayor Randall Woodfin in a statement urged prayers. “As a city, we stand with the families of these officers and the Birmingham Police Department at this tragic time,” he said in a statement. “This is a time of mourning for our city, but please know our police officers will be dedicated to justice and continued service for the people of Birmingham.” Woodfin said Carter laid down his life for the city he served. “This husband and father was a true public servant and will be honored by each of us,” Woodfin said.
The shooting happened outside a downtown club on Fifth Ave. North. An investigation is under way.
Carter was a graduate of Phillips High School. He began is law enforcement career as a correctional officer in Shelby County in 2002. He served in the United States Air Force. He is survived by his wife and children.
Florida’s 6-week abortion ban will have a ‘snowball effect’ on residents across the South
Abortion rights advocates say the ban will likely force many to travel farther for abortion care and endure pregnancy and childbirth against their will.
Attitudes among Alabama lawmakers softening on Medicaid expansion
Alabama is one of ten states which has not expanded Medicaid. Republican leaders have pushed back against the idea for years.
Birmingham is 3rd worst in the Southeast for ozone pollution, new report says
The American Lung Association's "State of the Air" report shows some metro areas in the Gulf States continue to have poor air quality.
Why haven’t Kansas and Alabama — among other holdouts — expanded access to Medicaid?
Only 10 states have not joined the federal program that expands Medicaid to people who are still in the "coverage gap" for health care
Once praised, settlement to help sickened BP oil spill workers leaves most with nearly nothing
Thousands of ordinary people who helped clean up after the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico say they got sick. A court settlement was supposed to help compensate them, but it hasn’t turned out as expected.
Q&A: How harm reduction can help mitigate the opioid crisis
Maia Szalavitz discusses harm reduction's effectiveness against drug addiction, how punitive policies can hurt people who need pain medication and more.
