Jefferson County Coroner Identifies Man, 38, Shot and Killed by BPD Officer in UAB St. Vincent’s Parking Deck

The Jefferson County coroner released the name Tuesday of the 38-year-old man who was shot and killed by a Birmingham police officer last week at a parking deck at UAB St. Vincent’s Birmingham.

Matthew Sean Massey, of Birmingham, was the man identified.

Birmingham police said an officer was on patrol around 12:35 p.m. when a security guard working at the McDonald’s near University Boulevard and 28th Street South flagged him down.

The security guard told the officer that Massey had assaulted a McDonald’s employee and pointed out the suspect, who had run across the street, according to police.

Police said the officer drove down University Boulevard, stopped his vehicle and attempted to make contact with Massey to investigate the reported assault.

When the officer attempted to detain Massey, police said he did not comply and ran, leading the officer on a foot chase to the north parking deck at UAB St. Vincent’s Birmingham.

The officer encountered the suspect again inside the parking deck, police said. After Massey ignored verbal commands, the officer deployed a Taser.

Police said Massey then tried to gain control of the Taser. The officer drew his gun and fired, hitting the suspect. Emergency personnel were called, but Massey died.

“We are grateful that no patients or employees were involved or injured in today’s incident,” UAB said in a statement. “The scene is secure, and there is no active threat to the UAB St. Vincent’s Birmingham campus.”

Police say the officer is a seven-year veteran of the Birmingham Police Department and will be placed on administrative leave while the shooting is investigated.

BPD’s Homicide Division will lead the investigation. Police said its findings will be turned over to the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office.

The department also plans to release body camera footage of the shooting at a time when doing so will not compromise the investigation.