Birmingham, Alabama — A 20‑year‑old man was found shot and killed inside an overturned car Tuesday afternoon in the Ensley neighborhood, leaving a community shocked and searching for answers. Early reports called it a traffic accident, but police later confirmed gunfire was involved.
Police with the Birmingham Police Department’s West Precinct were called to the 1400 block of 29th Street in Ensley shortly after 1:20 p.m. Tuesday. Responding officers expected a routine two‑vehicle collision, but what they found on arrival was far more troubling. One vehicle lay flipped on its roof, and inside, officers found an unresponsive man.
Birmingham Fire and Rescue crews pronounced the man dead at the scene. Initially treated as a fatal crash, the investigation took a grim turn when the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office later determined the man had suffered a gunshot wound. That revelation shifted the case from an accident to a homicide investigation.
The victim was identified by authorities as Carlton Octavius Duncan, a 20‑year‑old Birmingham resident. Friends and family described Duncan as a young man with his whole life ahead of him, and the news of his death has left loved ones struggling to process the loss.
At the scene, a second vehicle involved in the crash was found parked and empty, leaving investigators with questions about what led up to the shooting and how the crash occurred. As of now, police have made no arrests. The investigation is ongoing, and detectives are urging anyone with information to come forward.
No official motive has been released, and police have not indicated any suspects or persons of interest. Detectives are reviewing evidence and talking to witnesses in hopes of understanding whether the shooting was targeted or random.
Duncan’s death adds to the rising number of homicides in Birmingham this year. It stirs fresh grief in a city already grappling with community safety concerns, and residents in Ensley expressed a mixture of sadness and frustration following the news.
Duncan’s family is asking for privacy, prayers, and strength as they mourn. Police ask anyone with tips to contact the Birmingham Police homicide unit at 205‑254‑1764, or to share information anonymously with Crime Stoppers at 205‑254‑7777.
