A man shot while apparently being robbed as he delivered pizza in east Birmingham Wednesday night was the city’s first homicide victim of 2025.

The shooting happened in the 400 block of Roebuck Drive at about 9:45 p.m.

The victim’s car contained pizzas he was set to deliver.

The victim was found on the ground outside of his vehicle near the driveway of a residence and was pronounced dead on the scene.

Officer Truman Fitzgerald said it’s horrible that a young man out trying to make an honest living was killed so violently.

“This is one of the most heartbreaking homicides we have witnessed,’’ he said. “They robbed a family of their loved one.”

Fitzgerald said it’s too soon to tell whether the victim was set up to be robbed or if it was a crime of opportunity.

Detectives were able to speak with the residents in the home where the victim was killed, and also spoke to surrounding neighbors.

Area residents, Fitzgerald said, reporting hearing multiple shots fired.

While this is Birmingham’s first homicide of 2025, it is the third fatal shooting of the new year in Jefferson County. Men were shot to death Wednesday in Graysville and Bessemer.

The shooting death comes less than 24 hours after Birmingham ended 2024 with 151 homicides, breaking a record for violent deaths set in 1933.

Police said they need anyone with information to call homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.