Four men killed during a violent start to 2025 in Jefferson County – including a Dominos deliveryman shot in an apparent robbery – have now been identified.

The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office on Thursday identified the victims as Derek Marcus Burpo, 51, Elijah Mack Jr. 65, Jason Neal Duke, 40, and Earnest Paul Christion Jr., 68.

One of the victims was stabbed on New Year’s Eve, and the other three were fatally shot on New Year’s Day. The killings happened in Birmingham, Graysville and Bessemer.

Just before 9 p.m. Wednesday, Birmingham police were dispatched on a call of shots fired in the 400 block of Roebuck Drive on the city’s east side.

Officers arrived to find Burpo unresponsive outside of his car in front of a house on a private road. Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service pronounced him dead on the scene at 9:42 p.m.

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

Officer Truman Fitzgerald said it’s horrible that a 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.

Last week marked 10 years since another Domino’s driver, 63-year-old Najeh Masaeid, a Jordanian immigrant, was murdered in an ambush robbery during a delivery at an apartment complex in the popular Summit shopping center off U.S. 280.

Burpo’s death came less than 24 hours after Birmingham ended 2024 with 151 homicides, breaking a record for violent deaths set in 1933.

Just hours earlier, about 5:30 p.m., Bessemer police responded to a fatal shooting inside a home in the 800 block of 24th Street North.

Det. Justin Burmeister said police entered the home and found Mack wounded inside.

He was pronounced dead on the scene at 5:47 p.m.

A woman was quickly taken in custody. Burmeister said they are not looking for anything other suspects.

A motive has not yet been disclosed.

The first reported homicide of 2025 in Jefferson County came less than two hours into the new year with a shooting in Graysville.

Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene at 1:21 a.m. Wednesday in the 300 block of 1st Avenue SW.

Duke was pronounced dead on the scene by Graysville Fire and Rescue at 1:51 a.m.

Investigators said the deadly shooting appears to be domestic related.

The suspect – a 40-year-old man – was questioned and released.

Sheriff’s spokesman Henry Irby said the case will be presented to the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office to determine if charges will be filed.

Christion was found dead New Year’s Eve inside an Ensley home.

Just after 7 p.m. Tuesday, Birmingham’s West Precinct Officers were dispatched to a house in the 2500 block of 15th Street Ensley.

Officers entered the house and found Christion unresponsive inside.

He was rushed by Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service to UAB Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 7:50 p.m.

Investigators spoke with numerous people on the scene but have not yet disclosed a motive.

A friend of the victim’s discovered him wounded and called 911.

“However, our officers are trying to track down if anyone saw what took place,’’ Fitzgerald said.

Anyone with information on the two Birmingham homicides is asked to call detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.