Shooting death of 26-year-old man in Birmingham ruled justifiable

The shooting death of a 26-year-old man earlier this week on Birmingham’s east side has been ruled justifiable.

Birmingham police on Friday announced no criminal charges will be filed in the Wednesday killing of Jonathan Earl Dancer.

East Precinct officers were dispatched at 11:40 a.m. to a report of a person shot at 6648 Division Avenue. When they arrived, they found Dancer suffering from at least one gunshot wound. Dancer was taken to UAB Hospital, where he was pronounced dead 12:26 p.m.

Police said the preliminary investigation suggests an altercation took place just before the shooting happened.
The shooter was detained for questioning and released. The Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office deemed the deadly shooting was self-defense.

Birmingham has had 30 homicides so far this year. Of those, three have now been ruled justifiable.