Mims v. City of Birmingham et al

On April 29, 2026, officers from the Birmingham Police Department responded to a noise complaint at the residence of 22-year-old Marcus Mims, an African American man. Body-worn camera footage later revealed that Officer Daniel Reed confronted Mims on his porch. Within seconds, Reed discharged his firearm, fatally striking Mims, who was unarmed and allegedly compliant. The incident ignited immediate community outrage. On May 15, 2026, Mims’s mother, Linda Mims, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the City of Birmingham, Police Chief Harold Patterson, and Officer Reed. The complaint alleges excessive force, violation of the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments, racial profiling, and a municipal policy of inadequate training and supervision that condones brutality. The city has denied liability, asserting that Officer Reed perceived a lethal threat. The case is currently in preliminary discovery.

As of early June 2026, the lawsuit is in active litigation. The defense has filed a motion to dismiss on qualified immunity grounds, which remains pending. No trial date has been scheduled.

Whether Officer Reed’s use of deadly force was objectively reasonable under the circumstances; whether the City of Birmingham maintains a custom or policy of tolerating or failing to correct unconstitutional uses of force; whether racial bias motivated the initial contact and escalation; and whether qualified immunity shields Officer Reed from liability.

The shooting of Marcus Mims sparked days of peaceful protests and rallies in downtown Birmingham, with activists demanding the immediate release of all police footage and the termination of involved officers. The case has drawn national media attention, intensifying the broader debate on police reform, accountability, and transparency. Local officials have pledged a Department of Justice pattern-or-practice investigation, while community organizers have used the incident to amplify calls for de-escalation training and civilian oversight boards.