Suspect Charged In Shooting Death Of Birmingham Police Officer

BIRMINGHAM, AL - Authorities have formally charged 31-year-old Jeremy Elwin Owens with capital murder in the shooting death of Birmingham police Sgt. Wytasha Carter. Carter was shot and killed outside a Birmingham night club Jan. 13.

Owens was taken into custody Thursday morning by State Bureau of Investigation agents and Birmingham police when he was released from UAB’s Spain Rehabilitation Center, according to an Alabama Media Group report. Owens, who has limited mobility since the Jan. 13 shooting, was transferred from the hospital to rehab last week.

Owens also is charged with attempted murder for allegedly shooting at Sgt. Talana Brown.

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The warrants against Owens were issued on Jan. 25. but were not served on him until today because he was not officially in police custody.

The shooting happened just before 2 a.m. in the 900 block of Fifth Avenue North outside the 4 Seasons Bar & Grill. Officers were working a special detail dealing with a rash of car break-ins in that area, when an undercover officer spotted at least two suspects who appeared to be trying door handles to see if they were locked. The officer called for backup, and the sergeant arrived.

The officer and the sergeant approached one suspect and patted him down where they found what they believed to be a weapon, reports say. The officers asked the suspect about it, and he reportedly armed himself and fired upon the officers.

Carter, Officer Lucas Allums and Owens were rushed to UAB Hospital’s Trauma Center by Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service. Carter, shot in the head, was pronounced dead at the hospital. Allums was critically wounded but released from UAB Hospital nine days after the shooting. He is still recovering.

An 18-year-old initially jailed in connection with the incident was released without being charged with any crime.

Photo via Birmingham PD