Calvin Dewayne Ball dies in fatal Birmingham vehicle fire homicide

Calvin Dewayne Ball dies in fatal Birmingham vehicle fire homicide

Fatal Birmingham vehicle fire homicide death of Calvin Dewayne Ball – Obituary

Calvin Dewayne Ball, 44, a resident of Bessemer, was found dead inside a burning vehicle in southwest Birmingham late Wednesday night, prompting a homicide investigation by the Birmingham Police Department.

Officers from the West Precinct responded around 11:45 p.m. to the 4300 block of Eli Avenue after reports of a person down. Firefighters had already put out the blaze and discovered Ball unresponsive inside the vehicle. He was officially pronounced dead at 11:53 p.m.

Authorities have classified the death as a homicide, though specific details about how the incident unfolded remain unclear. An autopsy will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death.

This incident marks Birmingham’s 31st homicide of the year, contributing to a total of 46 homicides reported in Jefferson County for 2023, with many occurring within the city. The case bears a disturbing similarity to the murder of Ball’s son, Ja’Calvin Demond Ball, who was found last October in a burned car in the Airport Highlands neighborhood. That case also involved a vehicle set on fire, underscoring a troubling pattern affecting the Ball family. The community is urged to come forward with any information to assist law enforcement in solving this case.