Birmingham police detectives have arrested and charged a second suspect in connection with a fatal December shooting where the victim was being robbed of heroin. Amber Nicole Harris, 19, has taken into custody at the Jefferson County Jail where she is being held on capital murder charges with no bond.
The incident took place on December 31, 2013 when residents of the Ensley area called 911 at around 3:00 p.m. after reportedly hearing gunshots. Birmingham Fire and Rescue paramedics were called to the scene where they pronounced Quintin Long, 22, dead. Investigators identified Eugene Hale as a suspect and charged him with capital murder eight days later. Further information led to the arrest of Amber Harris on January 7th, 2014.
Birmingham police spokesman Sergeant Johnny Williams Jr. said detectives have learned that the suspect and victim were involved in a dispute during a drug transaction just before the shooting. Court records show that Quintin Long was killed while Eugene Hale attempted to rob him of heroin. It is unclear at this time what role Amber Hale played in the murder, but Williams said she was with Hale at the time Long was killed.
Eugene Hale, 23, was also arrested in November on a charge of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and that case is set for trial this month. Amber Nicole Hale was arrested in October on charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. These cases have not yet gone to trial.