Perry Lee Mixon

On a Wednesday evening in the spring of 2021, the life of Perry Lee Mixon, a 62-year-old Black man, was brought to a violent and sudden end in his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama. The community was left seeking answers after he was gunned down in a parking lot, becoming another victim of the city's ongoing struggle with gun violence. To this day, his death remains an unsolved homicide, a painful open wound for those who knew him and a stark reminder of a case yet to find justice.

The fatal encounter occurred on the evening of May 5, 2021, in the Kingston neighborhood of North Birmingham. At approximately 8:50 p.m., officers from the Birmingham Police Department’s South Precinct were dispatched to the 800 block of 46th Street North. Some reports indicated that the police were alerted to the sound of gunfire by the city's ShotSpotter system. Upon arrival, they discovered a grim scene. Perry Mixon was found lying unresponsive in a parking lot, suffering from at least one apparent gunshot wound.

Emergency medical personnel from Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service arrived shortly after the police, but Mixon’s injuries were too severe. He was pronounced deceased at the scene, turning the parking lot into a homicide investigation site, cordoned off with crime scene tape as detectives began their work.

The preliminary investigation by the Birmingham Police Department suggested that Mixon was standing outside of a vehicle when one or more unknown individuals opened fire on him. It was reported that the shots may have come from a vehicle that quickly fled the scene after the attack. Beyond this limited information, details about the circumstances leading up to the shooting have remained scarce. Authorities have not released a description of any potential suspects or the vehicle involved, nor have they publicly discussed a possible motive for the killing.

The death of Perry Mixon was recorded as the 34th homicide in the city of Birmingham for 2021, a year that saw a significant number of violent crimes. His case was one of many that detectives were tasked with solving, adding to a growing list of families awaiting resolution. In the weeks following the murder, it was reported that Mixon's case was among 22 unsolved homicides in the city for the first half of that year alone, highlighting the challenges faced by law enforcement in bringing perpetrators to justice.

In the years since Perry Mixon was killed, there have been no public announcements regarding any arrests or significant breakthroughs in the investigation. His case has grown cold, leaving a void in the community and unanswered questions for his loved ones. The silence surrounding the case is a heavy burden for those who remember him and for a city that continues to grapple with the impact of such senseless violence.

The Birmingham Police Department continues to ask for the public’s help in solving this crime. Anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, is urged to come forward. Investigators are hoping that someone who saw something that night will provide the key piece of evidence needed to move the case forward. The B.P.D. Homicide Unit can be reached at 205-254-1764, and anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777. The search for who killed Perry Lee Mixon and why continues, a quiet but persistent quest for justice.