Birmingham woman, 28, charged with capital murder in shooting death of boyfriend

A 28-year-old woman has been charged in the shooting death of her boyfriend Saturday evening.

Jamela Melton, 28, is charged with capital murder in the killing of 32-year-old Jerry Bailey.

The charge is capital, Officer Truman Fitzgerald said, because Melton was inside a vehicle when police say she fatally shot Bailey.

Arrest warrants for Melton were obtained Sunday. She is awaiting transfer to the Jefferson County Jail.

Officers in the city's North End were dispatched shortly before 7:30 p.m. Saturday to respond to a call about a person shot in the 3500 block of Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard North.

Once on scene, they found Bailey in a grassy field just off the road and next to a trucking company. He died on the spot.

It appears Bailey was outside the vehicle when Melton allegedly shot him from inside the car. Bailey was found unconscious just steps from the car.

Fitzgerald said Melton remained at the scene and police believed she was the one who called 911.

Bailey is the 60th homicide committed in Birmingham in 2024. Of these, five were deemed justifiable and therefore not considered criminal.

Across Jefferson County, there were 83 homicides, including 60 in Birmingham.