Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin on Friday, addressing a bloody, deadly week in the city, said murder cannot, must not, be a solution to petty, trivial problems.

“Watch who you hang with. Control your behavior. Know when to walk away,’’ Woodfin said in a prepared statement.

The latest homicide happened in Friday’s predawn hours when a 55-year-old man is believed to have been awakened by a commotion outside a west Birmingham home and went to investigate.

When he did, shots were fired, and he died in the front yard of his cousin’s house where he had been staying.

His name was Renard West, and he was the fifth person killed in five straight days, the sixth in seven days.

He is the 80th homicide this year in a city that saw a double-digit increase in slayings in the first half of 2024.

“It’s important that we don’t characterize these lost lives as merely numbers and stats,’’ Woodfin said. “These are real people who were tragically taken away from grieving families – the families that are now left to pick up the broken pieces.”

“It’s not fair to them,’’ Woodfin said. “They deserve justice.”

The mayor discussed the circumstances of the past five killings.

Kamryn Connell, 30, was killed in East Lake Monday night. The deadly shooting happened just after 8 p.m. in an apartment building parking lot in the 7700 block of First Avenue South. He was found unresponsive on the ground, with dice nearby him.

Woodfin said the killing happened while the victim and suspect were playing dice against each other. No arrests have been announced.

Connell’s brother, Keleen Connell, was shot to death by Birmingham police on Feb. 23, 2022. Another brother, Kerry Connell, 18, was fatally shot in 2011 in the parking lot of a convenience store at 36 South Park Road.

Perez Demarco Moreland, 34, was shot at 8:04 p.m. Tuesday in the 7800 block of Third Avenue South. He was taken to UAB Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 9:54 p.m.

Police said Moreland and another man exchanged gunfire. Authorities have not yet said who fired first.

“Two men who knew each other were walking outside together when their argument escalated,’’ Woodfin said. “Both pulled guns out.”

No charges have yet been announced.

A woman, who has not yet been identified, was found nude and shot dead late Wednesday just outside the front door of an Avondale apartment on Fifth Avenue South. A suspect was taken into custody at the scene.

Woodfin said the suspect and the victim were together to “conduct an illegal transaction.” He did not elaborate.

On Thursday, 45-year-old Dietrich Lamont Boone died in a hail of gunfire at a busy downtown Birmingham intersection. The shots erupted at 2:15 p.m. at 25th Street and Seventh Avenue North. That intersection is in the middle of an area including Park Place Apartments, Marconi Park, and the Jones Valley Teaching Farm.

Boone, whose 20-year-old son was fatally stabbed six years ago, died a short time later at UAB Hospital.

Police said multiple guns were used in the shootout, and more than 50 rounds were fired.

Woodfin said the victim was involved in multiple feuds with other people. No arrests have been made.

Shortly after 4:30 a.m. Friday, the city’s gunfire detection system – Shot Spotter – indicated several rounds fired in the 1000 block of Cotton Avenue. Police then received a call that someone had been shot.

Officers arrived to find West in the front yard. Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service pronounced him dead on the scene at 5:07 a.m.

Community members were able to provide a description of the possible suspect. Police found him walking not far from the crime scene and took him into custody without incident.

Woodfin said the deadly shooting was captured on video. There was no indication the suspect and the victim knew each other, or that West was targeted for the shooting.

Additionally, a 25-year-old man, Javonte McDonald, was killed Saturday when someone opened fire on him while he was driving on Interstate 59 near the First Avenue North exit ramp. McDonald was pronounced dead on the scene. A second male victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

“We are not deflecting or victim blaming,’’ Woodfin said. “At the same time, the hard questions must be asked: How do you police destructive behaviors? How do you police interactions between parties in enclosed spaces? How can you predict when homicides occur between parties who know each other?”

“As a city, we can do better. Birmingham police are working literally night and day to keep residents safe,’’ he said. “Your leaders are tirelessly searching for solutions. But at the end of the day, residents must do their part.”

Woodfin said people must learn to walk away and de-escalate situations before guns are drawn.

“Enough with arguing over petty stuff. Stop trying to live out your TV fantasies by attempting to rob drug dealers,’’ the mayor said. “End the needless retaliation that creates a never-ending cycle of back and forth.”