BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - A 15-year-old Birmingham boy died early today after he was shot in Birmingham's Railroad Park Sunday night.



The Jefferson County Coroner's Office identified the victim as Jarmaine Walton. He was transported to UAB Hospital from the 1600 block of First Avenue South. He was pronounced dead at UAB Hospital at 2:07 a.m.

The coroner's office referred questions about what led to the shooting to the Birmingham Police Department. Police have not released any details about the killing today.

"This is an active investigation where we're calling on the public to give us the information we need,'' said Birmingham Police Chief A.C. Roper. " I understand that many people are focusing on the location but let's not forget the victim. We've had hundreds of thousands of people to visit and enjoy the park but it only takes one troublemaker to ruin it for others."

Gunfire rang out at Railroad Park about 7:20 p.m. Police responded to the park, where they found Walton shot in the head. Witnesses said they heard about six gunshots near the skateboard park. "Everyone took off running,'' park-goer Dale Bryant told AL.com Sunday night. "That's how I knew where it was. Everyone started running."

Dozens of police officers remained on the scene for much of Sunday night. Police have not announced any arrests in the teen's slaying.

It's been almost a year since any major incident has been reported at the park. In April 2012, four people were arrested after a melee at the park, also on a Sunday night. In that incident, three people - ages 19 and 20, were arrested for disorderly conduct. A fourth was arrested for discharging a firearm.

In that incident, police said it all began with hundreds of teens in the park between 6 and 7 p.m. Several fights broke out, causing problems to the point where police issued a 1033 over the radio, which means the officer is in an emergency situation and needs all possible assistance.

Following the 2012 incident, police and park officials met to revise the strategy on addressing crowds at the park. The park's approach to safety, they said then, includes 31 surveillance cameras, which are monitored off site and on site by a private company. There are also nine emergency boxes on the premises that would connect a park goer to security personnel.

The park has security rangers, which patrol the park 24-hours a day, seven days a week, even during the hours of 11 p.m. until 7 a.m., while the park is closed.

Anyone with information is asked to call Birmingham homicide investigators at 254-1764 or CrimeStoppers at 254-7777.

This story was updated at 5:49 p.m. to change the spelling of the victim's first name from Jermaine to Jarmaine based on reports from school official and family.