James Earl Hunter, a 52-year-old Black man, was killed on the evening of February 27, 2019, at a home in Birmingham, Alabama. Officers were sent to a residence at 1505 52nd Street after reports of a domestic disturbance and found Hunter unresponsive on a living room floor; Birmingham Fire and Rescue personnel pronounced him dead at the scene. Early accounts described the death as the outcome of a fight with a family member, and one person at the scene was taken into custody that night while investigators gathered statements and awaited the coroner’s examination to determine the precise medical cause.

The Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office later concluded the death was justifiable and reporting indicated the person initially detained was released after investigators determined the use of force was legally justified. No public reports identified the family member by name or described any criminal charges being filed. Funeral notices recorded his death date as February 27, 2019, and placed him within the Birmingham community he left behind.

If anyone has information about what happened that night or knew James, please share what you know.