Were not babysitters Ala police chief speaks out on teens death 8 other homicides in 9 days

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Birmingham Police Chief Scott Thurmond pulled no punches when discussing the early-morning shooting death of a 16-year-old high school student, or the deaths of eight other people killed over the past nine days. The killings are devastating to those who knew and loved the victims, the chief said, but many of them happened because of the victims’ actions and could have been prevented. “So, we need to have a really candid conversation about the things that are transpiring in our city as it relates to homicides and violence,” Thurmond said. The chief began with the shooting death…