On August 20, 2024, a shooting at the Monarch Ridge Apartments in Birmingham, Alabama, resulted in the death of 21-year-old Asia Alyce Poole and left another person injured. The Birmingham Police Department has arrested five individuals in connection with the incident, which was captured live on social media.
According to the police, Poole was found unresponsive in the breezeway of the apartment complex with gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene by Birmingham Fire and Rescue Services. A male friend of Poole was also shot in the leg and transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The altercation reportedly began with a fight between Poole and 19-year-old Ja’Niyah Hendrix, which escalated into a shootout involving multiple shooters. Video footage obtained from social media played a significant role in the investigation, leading to the arrests.
Among those arrested are 20-year-old Aacoreyah Denae Woods, who faces charges of murder, attempted murder, and two counts of discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling or vehicle. Justin Hendrix, 20, and Taylor McCloud, 22, are also charged with murder and attempted murder. Ja’Niyah Hendrix, involved in the initial altercation with Poole, is facing auto theft charges. Additionally, a juvenile male has been arrested in connection with the shooting, making him the fifth suspect in the case.
During a press conference, Chief Scott Thurman of the Birmingham Police Department addressed the community’s concerns about safety. He emphasized the department’s commitment to delivering justice for the victims and holding those responsible accountable. Thurman also pointed out that the cameras at the complex were not linked to the police’s Real-Time Crime Center at the time of the shooting, which hindered the initial response.
The Monarch Ridge Apartments, the site of the shooting, has a history of violent incidents, raising concerns among residents about the adequacy of security measures. The Birmingham Police continue to investigate the incident and have urged anyone with additional information or video footage to come forward.
Poole, who lived at Monarch Ridge, leaves behind a daughter who just began pre-kindergarten this week. The child’s 21-year-old father passed away on July 26.
