Black Pair Charged in Robbery That Led to Shooting of White Birmingham Cop

Christopher Leon Burke.

They fired 20 rounds and hit the cop twice.

Pretty good marksmanship by black standards.

Al:

Robbery charges have been filed against a teen and his adult friend in a Sunday-morning robbery that led to a Birmingham police officer being shot.

Christopher Leon Burke, 25, and Jahmari Leshaun Wright, 16, are charged with two counts each of first-degree robbery. Birmingham police obtained the warrants against the pair on Tuesday.

Burke was booked into the Jefferson County Jail at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday. His bonds total $500,000.

Wright, a student at Parker High School, on Monday was charged with attempted murder and shooting into an unoccupied vehicle. Authorities have not released Wright’s mugshot because of his age. His bond on the shooting charges was set at $200,000, and now totals $700,000.

Court records do no show any prior arrests for Burke or Wright. Authorities said Burke gave Wright the pistol that was used in the shooting.

They were taken into custody in Ensley within hours of the robbery and shooting. The Birmingham Police Department’s Crime Reduction Team captured the pair after the robbery victims helped track their stolen cell phones to the parking lot of the Winn Dixie on Bessemer Road in Ensley.

The suspects were in a security company vehicle and Burke was wearing a security guard uniform at the time of the arrests. Court records do not show any previous arrests of either suspects. Authorities said Wright is believed to be the shooter.

The ordeal began at 9:22 a.m. Birmingham police narcotics Det. John Finke was working an extra job at the Woodlawn campus of Church of the Highlands. The officer, who was in uniform but not wearing a protective vest, spotted a robbery in progress of two people reportedly heading to church.

He confronted the suspects and a shootout erupted. Authorities said roughly 20 rounds were fired.

Finke was struck twice in the abdomen area. He was critically injured and rushed to UAB Hospital’s Trauma Center where he underwent surgery. He has since undergone several surgeries but is recovering.

John Finke.