One suspect released in Ensley killings

One of the three people that were taken into custody in connection to the slaying of five people in one Ensley home early Sunday morning has been released. Of the two that remain, one has been charged with an unrelated robbery charge and the other remains in the Birmingham City Jail.

Birmingham police have identified Markell Devonte Bell and charged him with 1st degree robbery in a case unrelated to Sunday morning's incident. Bell is 18-years old and from Dolemite.

Four people were discovered shot execution-style and another person was shot to death in a house at 3113 Avenue S in Ensley. Birmingham police say the shootings occurred Sunday, Jan. 29 at around 3:30am. Bell and 2 other suspects were apprehended Sunday night. The names of the other 2 suspects will not be released until they're formally charged. They are 17 and 24-year old males, according to Birmingham police.

"The suspects have been interviewed by detectives and are currently in the custody of the Birmingham City Jail on an extension as the investigation moves forward," said Sergeant Johnny Williams with the Birmingham Police Department.

The identities of the five slain victims have not yet been released.

Birmingham Mayor William Bell said Monday that he has asked the police chief and his staff to make this investigation a top priority.

"We have made this our highest priority for the department and are pulling out all the stops and all the resources to get to the bottom of it," Bell said.

"I commend the Chief and his special task force, as well as the men and women who patrol that area, on the outstanding job they've done to get us to this point. It's still an ongoing investigation, it's still fluid, but we are working very diligently to get to the bottom of it and make sure that all those responsible get justice," Bell continued.

Birmingham Police Chief A.C. Roper says it appears that the crime was not random but instead the victims were targeted.

"There's no evidence at all that this was random. We believe this house was selected for a specific purpose and we have to tie all those pieces together," Roper said.

The chief of police said it's too early in the investigation to determine a motive in the slayings.

Investigators are still looking for more suspects who could be involved in the killings.

"What I want the public to do is any amount of information, no matter how small they think it is, please relay that to us," Roper said. "We want all our communities to know, if they've heard anything, if they think anything, if they surmise or suspect anything has occurred or they have some bit of information, please get that to us."

Anyone with information about the crime is urged to contact the Birmingham Police Department's Homicide Unit at 205-254-1764 or call Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.

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