February shooting death of 24-year-old man in Birmingham ruled justified; no charges filed

February shooting death of 24-year-old man in Birmingham ruled justified; no charges filed

The February shooting death of a 24-year-old man in Birmingham has been ruled justifiable.

Birmingham police on Wednesday announced no criminal charges will be filed in the slaying of Marquis Kantrell Drakes Jr.

Officers responded at noon that Wednesday – Feb. 22 – to a report of a person shot in the 1400 block of 29th Street in Ensley.

When they arrived on the scene, they found Drakes on the floor of the residence. He had sustained a gunshot wound, said Officer Truman Fitzgerald.

Drakes was taken by Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service to UAB Hospital. He was pronounced dead at 12:32 p.m.

Fitzgerald at the time said the preliminary investigation indicates the victim was involved in an altercation inside the residence before shots were fired. Officers took a female into custody at the scene.

On Wednesday, Fitzgerald said it was alleged that Drakes was armed with a gun during the confrontation. Investigators recovered a firearm from the scene believed to have been in Drakes’ possession.

Drakes’ death is the second of the city’s 22 homicides this year to be ruled justifiable. Birmingham police only have to report criminal homicides to the FBI for year-end statistical review.