Four men died in crimes of violence in Birmingham between Friday and Sunday, including one who was part of a deadly rampage that began in Auburn.

The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office on Monday identified three of the victims as: Emilio Aaron Elliot Jr., 23, Antione Harris, 36, and Charles Edward Gregory, 30. The fourth victim has not yet been identified.

Elliot was shot at 11:47 a.m. Friday in Birmingham’s Southtown public housing community. Birmingham police Sgt. Rod Mauldin said South Precinct officers were on patrol in the area when they heard multiple shots ring out. They found a man lying unresponsive near a vehicle in the area of the 2400 block of Ninth Avenue South.

Elliot, who lived in Bessemer, was taken to UAB Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 6:26 p.m. Friday. No arrests have been announced in his death.

Harris was found dead Saturday morning inside a home in the 100 block of Briar Grove Drive. His is believed to have been shot during a home invasion at the hands of Derrick Lee Hightower, a 32-year-old Georgia man accused in at least four killings that began in Auburn early Friday and ended with Harris’ death.

Birmingham police were notified about 11 p.m. Friday that a vehicle being sought out of Auburn was spotted at the USA Economy Lodge on Crestwood Boulevard. That vehicle, Mauldin said, was taken in Auburn and involved in the homicide there of 54-year-old Nancy Nash.

Mauldin said they had also received reports that the suspect – now identified as Hightower - was seen in the area of the motel. A silver sedan was seen leaving the area and Birmingham police tried to stop the vehicle. At that point, Mauldin said, a man got out of the sedan and exchanged gunfire with Birmingham police. Officers lost sight of the suspect after the shooting.

Early Saturday morning, as police continued their search, evidence led them to a home in the 100 block of Briar Grove Drive. A resident in the area was letting his dogs out in the backyard to use the restroom when a black male wearing all black appeared seemingly out of nowhere and said, “Hey, you got a phone?” the resident told AL.com, asking that his name not be used for fear of retribution.

The resident said, “no,” and the man fled on foot toward the area of Briar Grove Road. It was then, investigators believe, that the suspect broke into a home and a man was shot and killed. A woman and her three children live at the home but were not there when the home invasion and subsequent shooting took place.

A short time later, the resident who encountered the suspect said, he heard a barrage of gunfire. The next thing he knew, his neighborhood was flooded by SWAT. It is believed he took a vehicle from the house on Briar Grove and was in that vehicle when Birmingham police tried to stop him.

Harris was pronounced dead inside the Briar Grove Drive home at 7:04 a.m. Saturday. Birmingham police are working to obtain warrants in the case.

Hightower, who had been shot in the arm during the exchange of gunfire with police, surrendered after an all-day manhunt.

Gregory died early Sunday after he was shot in west Birmingham. According to the coroner’s office, the shooting happened at 12:56 a.m. in a private residence in the 1000 block of Alabama Avenue.

Gregory was taken to UAB Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 4:32 a.m. No additional details have been released about his slaying.

Hours later, about 11 a.m. Sunday, Birmingham police responded to the 1400 block of 88th Street North on a report of a person down. Mauldin said when they arrived on the scene, the victim was unresponsive. He was pronounced dead a short time later.

The victim is an adult black male, but authorities have not identified him. He was found on the side of the road in a remote residential area not far from the airport.

Mauldin said the man had been fatally shot but the investigation is in its early stages.

There were nine homicides in Birmingham between Monday and Sunday, bringing the city’s total to 37 so far in 2020. Of those, four have been ruled justifiable and therefore are not deemed criminal. In all of Jefferson County, there have been 56 homicides including the 37 in Birmingham.

Anyone with information is asked to call Birmingham homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777