Birmingham police were dispatched to the 1100 block of 12^th Street South, The Original Pita Shop, on December 16, 2023, after noon to investigate a report of a gunshot victim. South Precinct officers arrived at the scene to find an unresponsive adult male inside the Pita Shop suffering from a gunshot wound.

Birmingham Fire and Rescue arrived at the scene to transport the victim to an area hospital where he was declared deceased.

Following a preliminary investigation, authorities believe the victim (a customer) was involved in a verbal altercation with the business owner (suspect). At some point during the verbal altercation, it turned physical and the suspect shot the victim.

The owner of the Pita Shop has been apprehended.

No further details are available at this time.