BIRMINGHAM, AL – A suspect has been charged in connection with the fatal shooting of 38-year-old Corey Lavel Tremble, whose body was found early Thursday morning in an alleyway in Birmingham’s Ensley neighborhood. The Birmingham Police Department announced that 57-year-old Julius Earl Johnson faces felony charges of murder and certain persons forbidden to possess a firearm.
The incident occurred in the 700 block of 17th Street Ensley, where officers responded to reports of a person down shortly before 3:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 17, 2025. A passerby discovered Tremble unresponsive, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service pronounced him dead at the scene at 3:37 a.m. The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office later confirmed Tremble’s identity and ruled his death a homicide due to gunshot wounds.
The Birmingham Police Department’s Crime Reduction Team swiftly identified Johnson as a suspect. On Friday, July 18, 2025, detectives presented case information to the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, which issued a murder warrant and a warrant for certain persons forbidden to possess a firearm. Johnson was taken into custody without incident in the 2200 block of 47th Street Ensley, just blocks from the crime scene. He is currently held at the Jefferson County Jail with no bond for the murder charge and a $15,000 bond for the firearm possession charge.
While authorities have not disclosed a motive for the shooting, the investigation remains active, and police are exploring all possible leads. The charge of certain persons forbidden to possess a firearm indicates Johnson may have a prior criminal history prohibiting him from legally owning or carrying a gun, though specific details of his record have not been released.
Corey Lavel Tremble was a Birmingham resident remembered by loved ones as a kind-hearted individual with a close-knit family. His death has deeply affected the Ensley community, where residents are grappling with grief and frustration over persistent gun violence. “He was trying to make a better life,” a community member shared. “This loss hurts us all.”
The Birmingham Police Department urges anyone with information about the incident to come forward. Tips can be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama at 205-254-7777.
The shooting adds to the ongoing challenge of gun violence in Birmingham, which has seen a troubling rise in homicides. In 2024, the city surpassed its decades-long homicide record, with Tremble’s death among at least 42 homicides reported in Birmingham this year. Community members are calling for action to address the root causes of violence and restore safety to their neighborhoods. “We can’t keep losing people like this,” one Ensley resident said. “We need change, and we need it now.”
As the judicial process moves forward for Julius Earl Johnson, Corey Lavel Tremble’s family and friends are left to mourn a life taken too soon. His memory remains a call for justice and a reminder of the urgent need for peace in Birmingham’s streets.
Rest in peace, Corey Lavel Tremble. May your legacy inspire hope and healing for those you leave behind.
