Suspect In Murder Of Birmingham Police Officer Indicted

BIRMINGHAM, AL — The suspect in the shooting death of Birmingham police officer Sgt. Wytasha Carter has been indicted by a Jefferson County grand jury. Jeremy Owens, 31, is charged with capital murder in the Jan. 13 incident.

The indictment came down Tuesday, which also included an attempted murder charge for reportedly shooting at Sgt. Talana Brown and wounding officer Lucas Allums during the incident.

Owens was arrested February 14.

The shooting happened just before 2 a.m. Jan. 13 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, 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.