Arrest made in murder of Israeli business owner in Birmingham

Snir Lalum, an Israeli living in Birmingham, was killed in what was considered a robbery attempt on Aug. 24.

Lalum, 44, was co-owner of Insta-Movers and was opening the business for the day around 5 a.m. when he was apparently followed to the business from a nearby convenience store. Birmingham Police Southside precinct officers were dispatched at 5:15 a.m. and found Lalum in a warehouse bay, suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to UAB Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 5:50 a.m.

The Birmingham Police Department said “the preliminary investigation suggests an unknown suspect(s) approached the victim at the business and fired shots at him. Currently, the motive is unknown.”

Sebastian Ross, in a 2022 booking photo

On Sept. 1, the arrest of Sebastian Ross, 23, of Hoover, was announced. He was charged with capital murder during robbery, and was booked into the Jefferson County Jail on Aug. 25. A second suspect reportedly is still at large.

Lalum lived in Vestavia with his wife, Karin, and 6-year-old son, Yarin. Assaf Hazan has organized a GoFundMe to support his wife and son, raising over $26,000 at press time. “The funds raised will support the relocation costs, ensuring a stable environment for Snir’s wife and son as they navigate this challenging chapter of their lives,” Hazan wrote. “Additionally, the funds will contribute to specialized care and therapy for their child, providing him with the tools necessary for his growth and development.”

Lalum had lived in the area for several years. In 2013 ads for Alabama Fresh Air in this magazine, Lalum was listed as a co-owner and active member of Chabad of Alabama and the LJCC.

The afternoon following the incident, Jeff Brown, regional security advisor for the Birmingham Jewish Community, sent out a summary to local Jewish institutions, saying “we are aware of an incident involving a member of the Birmingham Jewish community this morning. Working with the Birmingham Jewish Federation and Birmingham Police we can confirm this was not a targeted attack against the Jewish community and there is no ongoing threat.”

In a statement, Israel’s Foreign Ministry said the Israeli consulate in Atlanta and the ministry had been in touch with the family.