6 Years Later, 2 Blacks Arrested For Murder of White Musician

ABC 27
January 26, 2014

Reward offer for information on slaying of Birmingham musician Howard Scott Bernstein.
The old Reward offer for information on slaying of Birmingham musician Howard Scott Bernstein.

Over six years after a 51-year-old man was shot to death in west Birmingham, police have arrested two suspects, charging them with capital murder.

According to a release, 36-year-old Richard Morris and 25-year-old Tiera Marchbank, both of Birmingham, were arrested last week for the murder of Howard Berstein, who was shot and killed Nov. 4, 2007 at a home on Cotton Avenue Southwest.

Richard Morris, left, and Teira Marchbank face capital murder charges in the 2007 killing of Birmingham musician Howard Scott Blue Bernstein
Richard Morris and Teira Marchbank face capital murder charges in the 2007 killing of Birmingham musician Howard Scott Blue Bernstein.

On the day of the killing, officers were called to the location on a report of an assault. Upon arriving, police found Berstein suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest before Birmingham Fire and Rescue workers pronounced him dead at the scene.

Cold case detectives received several leads in the case, but they were never able to gather enough information or evidence to make an arrest until Friday, Jan. 17, when authorities obtained warrants to arrest Morris and Marchbank.

Both suspects are being held in the Jefferson County Jail without bond.