A 34-year-old suspect is charged with murder in the fatal shooting of a man in Birmingham last month.

Dewayne Whittington was arrested on April 27, according to court records made public Monday. He is charged in the April 8 shooting death of 39-year-old Kerry Minter in southwest Birmingham.

West Precinct officers were dispatched about 8:30 p.m. that Saturday to the 4400 block of Eli Avenue. When officers arrived on the scene, they found Minter lying on the ground with a gunshot wound. He had been shot in the chest area under the right armpit.

Police officers began CPR on Minter until Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service arrived and took over the efforts to save his life. Minter was rushed to UAB Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Police spokesman Lt. Sean Edwards said at the time that multiple witnesses were taken to police headquarters for questioning, but said those witnesses didn't provide much information as to what happened and who was involved. Investigators believe that shortly before the shooting, Minter and several other people were hanging out at the Eli Avenue home drinking alcohol. At some point, Edwards said, an argument erupted and Minter was shot.

Whittington was released April 29 from the Jefferson County Jail where he had been held on $75,000 bond. He is set to have a preliminary hearing on May 19.

Court records show he has previous convictions for arson and burglary.