Gunfire leaves two dead in Alabama, including teen girl bystander

Published 8:59 pm Sunday, January 9, 2022

Alabama authorities say gunfire that left a 49-year-old man dead in Birmingham also killed a 16-year-old girl who was in a passing car.

Birmingham news outlets say it happened in the southwest part of the city Saturday night. The dead were identified as Yasmine Wright, 16, and Ed Franklin Harris, 49, both of Birmingham.

Police say inhabitants of a vehicle fired at Harris, who had been riding his motorcycle in the area.

The Birmingham News reports that Wright had gotten off work at the Birmingham Zoo and was being driven home by her mother when shots hit the car. Police are looking for at least two suspects.

Police Sgt. Rod Mauldin said the preliminary investigation indicates Harris turned onto a Birmingham street and laid down the motorcycle. At that point, the suspect or suspects are believed to have gotten out of their vehicle and fired shots at Harris.

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Yasmine Wright, a 10th-grade scholar at Wenonah High School who was wounded by stray gunfire as she returned home from work on Saturday,” Birmingham City Schools Superintendent Dr. Mark Sullivan said in a prepared statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Yasmine’s family, as well as the students, faculty and staff at Wenonah High. Grief counselors will be on hand at the school on Monday.”