Officers investigating robbery find 5 dead in Alabama home

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

Police stand on the street of the home where the victims were found

(Credit: CBS/WIAT)

(CBS/AP/WIAT) BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Authorities say police found five people dead inside a Birmingham home Sunday when they arrived there to investigate a possible robbery.

Birmingham Police Sgt. Johnny Williams said officers arrived at the house around 3:30 a.m. on Sunday after getting a call that a robbery was in progress. Upon arrival at the scene, they soon discovered the five bodies.

CBS affiliate WIAT reports Williams said they were pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators are now interviewing a potential witness but no arrests have been made.

Williams said, "Someone out the knows more information. We know someone is going to do the right thing." Police believe more than one person was involved in the crime.

The victims were not immediately identified nor was the cause of death released.

"It obviously appears to us this horrific crime was not a random act of violence," said Birmingham Police Chief A.C. Roper. A woman who lives across the street from the victims' said the house had been rented for about a year-and-a-half by a woman in her late 40's and her son and brothers.

The neighbor said they live on a quiet street and there was a constant stream of visitors coming in and out of the home. However, the residents never seemed to cause any disturbances.

"One homicide is bad, I mean, but in this case it's tragic to have this many people that are found deceased in one location. So we want to try to gather this suspect or suspects as soon as possible because they're a danger if they're running around the street," said Williams.

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by Well_You_Aint_Me January 30, 2012 10:33 AM EST: "...[T]he house had been rented for about a year and a half by a woman in her late 40's and her son and brothers...they live on a quiet street and there was a constant stream of visitors coming in and out of the home."

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Can we say "drug related"?

Depending on the times of traffic, can we say "methamphetamine"?; Reply to this comment


by Rob459 January 30, 2012 10:07 AM EST: So, you mean that calling the police didn't save these people? How can that be? We're always being told that people shouldn't arm themselves, that if you just call the police they will come and rescue you (which they can do because they have guns - but you shouldn't). But here the people called and reported a robbery, and yet when the police arrived they were all already dead. That just must be a mistake. Sure all those who insist that you should never be allowed to have a gun in your home to defend yourself, that doing so will never be justified, and that the police will be able to adequately protect you (because they have guns), must be correct, so this just couldn't have actually happened. It HAS to be fake.; Reply to this comment