In the spring of 2019, the life of Paul Gabriel Harris Jr., a 33-year-old male, was abruptly ended on the streets of Birmingham, Alabama. On the afternoon of March 14th, at approximately 2:30 p.m., officers from the Birmingham Police Department were dispatched to the intersection of 23rd Street and 9th Avenue South, near the Southtown Court housing community, following reports of a shooting. Upon their arrival, they discovered Harris lying in the street, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Despite the immediate response and medical attention provided at the scene, his injuries proved fatal, and he was pronounced dead.
Witnesses at the scene reported seeing a man fleeing the area shortly after the sound of gunfire erupted. This information provided an initial lead for investigators who quickly began piecing together the events that led to the fatal shooting. The investigation into Harris's death progressed, and authorities identified 25-year-old Cedric Levy Alexander as a person of interest in the homicide.
Through their investigation, law enforcement officials were able to locate and apprehend Alexander. His arrest was aided by his feature on Crime Stoppers, a program that enlists the public's help in solving crimes. Following his arrest, the case against Alexander was presented to a grand jury. In September 2019, the grand jury returned an indictment, formally charging Cedric Levy Alexander with the murder of Paul Gabriel Harris Jr. While an arrest and indictment were made, the motive behind the deadly shooting was not made public by the authorities.
