20-year-old charged in street racing hit-and run death of pedestrian on Birminghamâs Bessemer Road
A 20-year-old alleged street racer has been charged in the fatal hit-and-run of a man in west Birmingham.
Malic Daiquan Paradise, of Birmingham, is charged with manslaughter in the Oct. 8 death of 43-year-old Geremy Earl Fantroy, whose legal name was Geremy Earl Picking.
The deadly crash happened about 11:40 p.m. that Sunday in the 1700 block of Bessemer Road.
Fantroy was pronounced dead on the scene at 11:50 p.m.
Birmingham police Sgt. LaQuitta Wade said the investigation shows that there was street racing taking place in the area where Fantroy was killed.
Paradise was initially booked into the Birmingham City Jail on Oct. 9, but was released without any initial charges.
He was booked into the Jefferson County Jail Wednesday night on charges of manslaughter, attempting to elude a police officer and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death.
Paradise was released from the county lockup early today after posting $60,000 bond.
Birmingham police released this photo of the suspect vehicle in the deadly hit-and-run of a 43-year-old man on Oct. 8, 2023. (Birmingham Police)
The investigation began about 11 p.m. that Sunday when West Precinct officers were notified of a pedestrian struck in the 1700 Block of Bessemer Road.
They arrived to find Fantroy unresponsive in the road. He was pronounce dead on the scene.
Investigators learned Fantroy had been struck by a Red Chrysler 300 that was with several vehicles fleeing the area from Birmingham officer illegally street racing.
Police later released a photo of that Chrysler to the public for help in finding it. Authorities said that car has since been recovered after it was found burned.
Paradise’s brother, 23-year Kijuntai Paradise, is charged with hindering prosecution in connection with the torching of the car.
Fitzgerald also released new information about the yellow KIA Stinger that involved in the street racing.
He said officers attempted a traffic stop on the vehicle in the 5700 Block of Bessemer Road; the driver refused to stop, and a chase ensued before being called off near I-59 North and the Valley Road Exit due to the driver’s actions.
Police then saw the KIA Stringer stopped on I-59 North. They approached the vehicle and saw a man standing in the driver’s doorway of the vehicle.
Officers observed two handguns in the vehicle.
Antonio Gonzales-Rebeles Jr., 22, of Adamsville is charge with felony attempting to elude, reckless endangerment and resisting arrest.