Leeds – The Leeds Police Department (LPD) have completed a months-long narcotics investigation with the Leeds Special Investigations Unit, Leeds SWAT Team, Irondale PD SWAT Team and Jefferson County Star One.
The teams executed a search warrant on the home of Joshua Hester on March 4. Hester’s home, located in the area around 7700 Sunrise Circle, uncovered drug paraphernalia, multiple firearms and a history of violence.
Hester was arrested for attempted murder after shooting at a Birmingham Police car in Gate City. In 2023, Hester was arrested again, this time for 1st Degree Assault, Trafficking Heroin and Felony Attempt to Elude. He also had an outstanding felony arrest warrant at the time. LPD searched his home and was found to be a suspect in an unsolved case of attempted murder. Preliminary ballistics show that the weapons were closely related to casings found in various shootings and homicides in Birmingham in 2024. They’re currently working with the ATF to file federal charges.
Things found in Hester’s home include fentanyl, marijuana, other drug paraphernalia, body armor, two machine gun conversion devices and a non-serialized 5.56 “Ghost Gun.” and several guns. Two of the guns had been reported stolen in Birmingham.
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