In the spring of 2025, the life of Amaiyah Sumlin, a 23-year-old Black woman from Birmingham, Alabama, was tragically cut short following a violent altercation. The incident began in the early morning of Sunday, April 6, 2025. At approximately 6:18 a.m., Birmingham Police Department officers responded to a call about a person shot in the 2800 block of Riverview Road.
Upon arrival, officers found Amaiyah Sumlin suffering from a gunshot wound.
According to the preliminary investigation, a gathering had been taking place when a physical fight broke out, which resulted in Sumlin being shot. Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service arrived on the scene and transported her to UAB Hospital with life-threatening injuries. The person suspected of shooting her had left before police arrived.
Later that day, a 22-year-old Birmingham woman named Ivry Jelks voluntarily surrendered to officers at the Birmingham Police Headquarters. She was taken into custody and placed on a 48-hour felony extension at the city jail. On Monday, April 7, after detectives presented information to the Shelby County District Attorney's Office, an Attempted Murder warrant was issued for Jelks.
For six days, Amaiyah Sumlin fought for her life in the hospital. She succumbed to her injuries and passed away on Saturday, April 12, 2025. Following her death, the charge against Ivry Jelks was upgraded to murder. She was transferred to the Shelby County Jail, where she was held without bond.
As of April 2025, the homicide investigation was ongoing while Jelks awaited legal proceedings. Authorities ask that anyone with information pertaining to the case contact the Birmingham Police Department Homicide Unit at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
