A man shot to death Monday night frequently panhandled at the location where his body was found, and police said Tuesday he may have argued with his killers shortly before the killing.

Birmingham's West Precinct officers responded about 7:30 p.m. to Interstate 59 and Avenue I, and arrived to find the victim - a white male - lying on his stomach with multiple gunshot wounds. Sgt. Bryan Shelton said the officers recognized the man as a possible vagrant who solicits money from motorists exiting the interstate.

The man, whose identity hasn't yet been confirmed, was pronounced dead on the scene by Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service medics at 7:44 p.m. The Jefferson County Coroner's Office said they believe they know who the victim is, but are waiting for fingerprints to confirm the identity.

Shelton said the investigation so far shows the victim may have been arguing with the occupants of a vehicle at that location. Detectives believe that after the argument, the victim walked away and the suspects drove off.

However, he said, the suspect vehicle returned. At that point, one of the suspects opened fire on the victim, hitting him multiple times. The suspects fled the scene. No suspect or vehicle information has yet been released.

The victim is Birmingham's 42 homicide this year. Of those, four have been ruled justifiable and therefore are not deemed by police as criminal. In all of Jefferson County, there have been 61 homicides in 2017, including the 42 in Birmingham.

"We need to figure out what the initial argument was over, and what subsequently lead the suspects to return and kill the victim,'' Shelton said. "Investigators now have to work on identifying the victim and notifying his family."

Police are asking that anyone with information about the slaying call homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.