Witnesses still sought in 2021 Birmingham park shooting that killed Areyelle Yarbrough, wounded 5 others
Authorities are once again asking for the public’s help in solving the 2021 Easter Sunday shooting at W.C. Patton Park that killed a 32-year-old woman and injured five others, including a 5-year-old boy.
Investigators believe they can bring justice in the death of Areyelle Yarbrough and the wounding of the victims but said they still need more witnesses to come forward.
Authorities have previously said they believe members of the violent street gang H2K were involved in the deadly incident.
The gunfire erupted just after 7 p.m. on April 4, 2021, while hundreds, if not more, were gathered celebrating the holiday.
Officers arrived to find Yarbrough laying on the ground just outside the passenger door of her vehicle wounded by gunfire. She was pronounced dead outside vehicle, and those with her said she was trying to protect some of the children who were with her.
The other five surviving victims were ages 21, 17, 15, 14 and 5. The 5-year-old, Justice Holness, was shot in the lungs and the bullet also and fractured his collar bone.
A witness said two women were sitting on top of a blue Dodge Charger when someone opened fire, striking the Charger and the two women.
Then, multiple people started shooting. “They didn’t even know what they were shooting at,” the witness told AL.com, estimating about 100 shots were fired.
Yarbrough was a graduate of Alabama A&M University graduate and had been working on her MBA. She was a manager over 12 employees at the Jefferson County Department of Revenue where she headed principal accounting for business and sale tax licensing.
Her father, the Rev. Mike Yarbrough, described his daughter a loving and caring young lady. “She was always outgoing, never met a stranger. She had friends everywhere,’’ he said. “She always had a radiant smile and a lovely personality. She was loved and cherished by many.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Birmingham homicide Det. Jonathan Ross at 205-254-1764 or remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.