Marlon Hale was a 45-year-old Black man who was well-regarded in his Birmingham, Alabama, community. According to his daughter, Shakeithia Hale, he was a good man and easy to get along with, always willing to help others. He was a longtime resident of his neighborhood, where he owned both his own house and the one next door.
On the night of Monday, December 4, 2017, Hale’s life was cut short in a violent home invasion.
At around 10 p.m., two men entered his residence in the 2800 block of 32nd Place Southwest. They forced Hale to lie on the floor, and evidence at the scene suggested he put up a significant struggle. His daughter later described seeing blood on the refrigerator, walls, carpet, and even a lamp. During the confrontation, one of the intruders shot Hale in the leg. The two men then fled the home without taking anything.
When Birmingham Police officers arrived, they found Hale wounded but still able to speak. He told them what had happened and provided a description of his attackers before he was rushed to UAB Hospital for treatment. Tragically, he succumbed to his injuries in the hours that followed. Police immediately began a homicide investigation into his death.
The case remains unsolved. Based on the description Marlon Hale gave to officers before he died, police are looking for two men. One was described as wearing blue jeans and a black hoodie, while the other wore a grey sweatshirt. His daughter has pleaded for anyone with knowledge of the crime to come forward. As of December 2017, no arrests have been made.
Anyone with information about the murder of Marlon Hale is asked to contact the Birmingham Police Department's Homicide Unit at 205-254-1764 or CrimeStoppers at 205-254-7777.
