By admin 
Four men killed in violent start to 2025 in Jefferson County – including a Dominos delivery man who was shot in an apparent robbery – have now been identified.
The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office on Thursday identified the victims as Derek Marcus Burpo, 51, Elijah Mack Jr. 65, Jason Neal Duke, 40, and Ernest Paul Christion Jr., 68.
One of the victims was stabbed on New Year’s Eve, the other three were fatally shot on New Year’s Day. The murders took place in Birmingham, Graysville and Bessemer.
Just before 9 p.m. Wednesday, Birmingham police were dispatched after shots were fired in the 400 block of Roebuck Drive on the city’s east side.
Officers found Burpo unconscious outside his car in front of a home on a private road. Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service pronounced him dead at the scene at 9.42pm
The victim’s car contained pizzas that he was supposed to deliver.
Officer Truman Fitzgerald said it’s devastating that a man trying to make an honest living was killed in such a violent manner.
“This is one of the most heartbreaking murders we have seen,” he said. “They robbed a family of their loved one.”
Fitzgerald said it is too early to say if the victim was set up to be robbed or if it was a crime of opportunity.
Detectives were able to speak with the residents of the home where the victim was murdered, as well as surrounding neighbors.
Nearby residents, Fitzgerald said, reported hearing several gunshots.
Last week marked 10 years since the driver of another Domino’s, 63-year-old Najeh Masaeid, a Jordanian immigrant, was killed in an ambush robbery during a delivery to an apartment complex in the popular Summit shopping center on US 280.
The Domino’s Roebuck branch is closed today to give employees time to process their grief.
Burpo’s death came less than 24 hours later Birmingham ended 2024 with 151 murders, breaking the record for violent deaths set in 1933.
Police investigated a fatal shooting on Jan. 1, 2025, at a home in Bessemer.(Carol Robinson)
A few hours earlier, around 5:30 p.m., Bessemer police responded to a fatal shooting at a home in the 800 block of 24th Street North.
Det. Justin Burmeister said police entered the home and found Mack injured inside.
He was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:47 p.m
A woman was quickly arrested. Burmeister said they are not looking for any other suspects.
A motive has not yet been revealed.
The first reported homicide of 2025 in Jefferson County less than two hours into the new year with a shooting in Graysville.
Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene in the 300 block of 1st Avenue SW at 1:21 a.m. Wednesday.
Duke was pronounced dead at the scene at 1:51 a.m. by Graysville Fire and Rescue
Investigators said the fatal shooting appears to be domestic-related.
The suspect, a 40-year-old man, was questioned and released.
Sheriff’s spokesman Henry Irby said the case will be referred to the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office to determine whether charges will be filed.
Birmingham police are investigating a homicide at a home in the 2500 block of 15th Street in Ensley.(Carol Robinson)
Christion was found dead in a home in Ensley on New Year’s Eve.
Just after 7 p.m. Tuesday, Birmingham West Precinct Officers were dispatched to a home in the 2500 block of 15th Street Ensley.
Officers entered the home and found Christion unconscious inside.
He was rushed to UAB Hospital by Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service, where he was pronounced dead at 7:50 p.m.
Investigators have spoken to many people at the scene but have not yet released a motive.
A friend of the victim found him injured and called 911.
“However, our officers are trying to determine if anyone saw what happened,” Fitzgerald said.
Anyone with information about the two murders in Birmingham is asked to call detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.