Family desperate for answers in 2023 killing of Birmingham father ambushed by 3 masked gunmen

By Carol Robinson

It’s difficult for Tiffany Irvin to talk about what the past 10 months have been like without her brother.

It was May 11, 2023, when gunmen opened fire on 37-year-old Erskin Irvin Jr. outside his family’s Norwood home.

When the ambush shooting stopped, the father of two sons had been hit more than 20 times.

The family has no idea who killed him or why.

“It has been hurtful. My family has a lot of questions,’’ Tiffany said. “It’s scary knowing there’s individuals out there, free, that can do something so gruesome.”

Erskin, a truck driver, had gotten off work and been home only about an hour. He was at the home he shared with his mother in the 1400 block of 33rd Street North.

Home security camera footage showed what happened next.

“You can watch him leaving out of the house,’’ Tiffany said. “He was telling my aunt bye and as he walked down the steps and got in his car, they ran from darkness across the street and shot up his car.”

She said the video showed three masked gunmen carrying out the ambush, standing at his car and unleashing more than 35 rounds.

Family members heard the shots and ran outside, including Erskin’s grieving mother.

Police said they believe Erskin was targeted, but no motive has been released.

“You wouldn’t shoot and kill an animal the way they did my brother and did it right in front of our mother’s home,’’ Tiffany said. “What could he have possibly done that was so bad?”

“My family hasn’t been the same since this tragedy happened,’’ she said.

“You all took someone special to us. You took a father, you took an only son, you took a brother,’’ Tiffany said. “You took someone I looked up to as my protector, and we want justice.”

Tiffany said her brother enjoyed his work and enjoyed being with friends and family, especially his two sons who are now ages 3 and 20.

“He just enjoyed a good time. He put a smile on your face,’’ she said. “You were going to laugh every time you were around my brother.”

Erskin’s youngest son just turned 3.

“He loves cars, and he has this one that’s white, the same color as his dad’s car,’’ she said. “He just walks around with it saying, ‘Dada car.’’’

“His oldest son is just lost without his dad,’’ she said.

While answers won’t bring him back, Tiffany said they could help the family to heal.

“For somebody to do something like this is heartbreaking,’’ she said. “It’s hard to trust people, not know what it was all about. It was just senseless.”

“You took a life. You don’t deserve to walk around free,’’ Tiffany said. “What does life mean to you?”

Erskin, she said, is remembered for his smile, his jokes and his laughter.

“He didn’t deserve what happened to him,’’ she said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.

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