Cigarette may be reason for murder

Birmingham police say a cigarette may have lead to the city’s latest murder.

East Precinct officers responded to a stabbing call about 1:30 a.m. to 3517 65th Street North.

Officers found Malcolm Hurd, 61, bleeding on a bedroom floor.

Paramedics pronounced the victim dead.

According to preliminary investigation, the Hurd and a male suspect fought because Hurd would not give the suspect a cigarette.  After stabbing Hurd, the suspect fled the scene.

Just before 4:30 a.m., homicide detectives arrested the suspect at 730 Gene Road.  The 24 year old man is in the Birmingham City Jail but not has not been formally charged.

So far, Birmingham has 73 homicides recorded for 2008; that’s compared to 83 this time in 2007.