A 45-year-old Alabama man along with his dog was found shot and killed inside a burning home in Birmingham, according to reports.
The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as Deshawn Kahill Murphy.
Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service and Birmingham police responded about 12:15 p.m. Monday to a blaze at 4328 Willard Avenue S.W. As firefighters entered the house, they found Murphy and a dog unresponsive just inside the front door. Both had been shot and were pronounced dead on the scene at 1:23 p.m.
Police Sgt. LaQuitta Wade said a friend of the victim was sitting outside the house in a vehicle. An unknown man fired shots at the friend and the friend then fled the location on foot. The friend sustained a gunshot wound to side and was taken to the hospital.
Shortly after the shooting, the fire was reported.
Wade said it wasn’t immediately clear if Murphy was fatally shot before or after the friend was shot.
No arrests have been announced.
Anyone with information is asked to call homicide detective s at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
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