Birmingham Man Charged with Murder

BIRMINGHAM, AL - A 34-year-old Birmingham man has been charged with murder for his role in the shooting death of 30-year-old Gavan Averhart. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office has charged Ronnie Owens Davis of Birmingham with murder under the Felony Murder Rule.

The April 10 shooting occurred in Center Point, wherein deputies responded to a report of shooting complaint on Hillview Lane with one adult male dead in the driver’s seat of a car from an apparent gunshot wound. A second adult male was transported to an area hospital with serious injuries. A gun, illegal drugs, and cash were found in the car.

While on the scene, deputies learned of a third adult male who had arrived at an area hospital by private vehicle suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. His injuries were not life threatening. The third male, identified as 23-year-old De’Erin Ward of Center Point, was questioned by detectives. He alleged that the first two picked him up at an apartment complex near the shooting location in order to purchase heroin from him.

They drove to Hillview Lane to conduct the transaction. Once there, the pair tried to rob him. The front passenger, later identified as Davis, pulled a gun and shot him. He pulled a gun and fired back striking both people in the front seat. A friend picked him up and took him to the hospital.

(For more updates on this story and free news alerts for your neighborhood, sign up for your local Birmingham Patch morning newsletter.)

Sheriff’s detectives presented the case to the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office. Yesterday afternoon an arrest warrant was issued formally charging Davis with Murder under the Felony Murder Rule.

Davis was also found to have several outstanding felony warrants for failure to appear in court and probation violations. He was transferred from the hospital to the Jefferson County Jail where he remains with no bond.

Both Ward and Davis are convicted felons. Detectives will review this case with the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms to seek federal charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and using a firearm during the commission of another felony against both

Photo from Jefferson County Jail

Like the Birmingham Patch Facebook page for more local news.