Two men from Alabama, Damien McDaniel, 22, and Hatarius Woods, 27, have been apprehended by the Birmingham police for their alleged involvement in approximately one-third of the city’s homicides during the summer of 2024. The duo was arrested in relation to the alleged murder of 61-year-old Charlie Moore on August 13, as per a statement from the Birmingham Police Department. Both McDaniel and Woods are currently in custody without bond.
During a press briefing on November 26, Birmingham Police Officer Truman Fitzgerald revealed that the two suspects were implicated in several other homicides that took place from July to September. He stated that about 30% of these crimes were linked to either McDaniel or Woods.
The two men were also connected to a mass shooting at a nightclub on July 13, which resulted in the deaths of four individuals – Lerandus Anderson, 24; Stevie McGhee, 39; Markeisha Gettings, 42; and Angela Weatherspoon, 56. The incident also left at least 10 people injured. Both McDaniel and Woods were charged with capital murder in relation to this event.
McDaniel was initially arrested in October for his alleged involvement in another mass shooting that took place on September 21. This incident claimed the lives of Carlos McCain, 27; Roderick Lynn Patterson Jr., 26; Anitra Holloman, 21; and Tahj Booker, 27, and injured 17 others. McDaniel was also charged with the murders of Jamarcus McIntyre, 32, and Diontrante Tinae Brown, 35.
Officer Fitzgerald, while detailing the charges against McDaniel and Woods, mentioned that the number of murders in Birmingham allegedly linked to McDaniel could be “up to 11.” The police also suspect that the duo may be involved in several other unsolved murders, potentially including murders-for-hire. The local community has been urged to share any information they might have.
Fitzgerald highlighted that over 300 tips from the public regarding the September 21 shooting were instrumental in obtaining an arrest warrant for McDaniel. However, other suspects related to that incident are still at large.
During his press briefing, Fitzgerald underscored the significance of the arrests of McDaniel and Woods. He stated, “Our homicides that have been committed from July to September, about 30% of them involve one of these individual’s names. So, you have over one-fourth of the homicides in Birmingham being committed by just a select few individuals. When we say on these things, it’s important for us to get these violent offenders off the street, this is the perfect example of why.”