Source – en.mehrnews
A tragic mass shooting in Birmingham’s Five Points South neighborhood on Saturday night, leaving four people dead and 17 others injured. The Birmingham Police Department reported that the incident occurred just after 11 p.m. on the 2000 block of Magnolia Avenue. Upon arrival, police discovered two men and one woman lying unresponsive on the sidewalk. All three were pronounced dead at the scene. A fourth victim was transported to UAB Hospital, where they later succumbed to their injuries.
The victims identified include 21-year-old Anitra Holloman of Bessemer, and 27-year-olds Tahj Booker and Carlos McCain, both of Birmingham. Authorities have not yet confirmed the identity of the fourth victim, a male. In total, UAB Hospital treated 12 victims, including one of the deceased. Four of those victims remain hospitalized, with conditions ranging from good to critical. Other injured individuals were taken to hospitals across the city, bringing the total number of gunshot victims to 21, including those killed.
Details of the Investigation and Shooting in Birmingham
Birmingham police believe that the shooting in Birmingham was not a random act of violence but stemmed from a targeted incident. According to initial reports, multiple suspects arrived at the location in a vehicle, exited, and began firing at a group of people standing on the sidewalk. After spraying the area with bullets, they quickly fled the scene. Police later confirmed that the suspects used fully automatic weapons during the attack, with over 100 shell casings found scattered on Magnolia Avenue.
Chief Scott Thurmond stated in a press conference on Sunday that authorities suspect one of the victims was specifically targeted and may have been the primary reason for the shooting. He further mentioned that there are indications that the killing was a paid hit. Detectives are working to determine the exact target and are currently reviewing video surveillance footage in hopes of identifying the suspects.
Community Response and Ongoing Investigation
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin expressed deep concern over the growing presence of automatic weapons on the city’s streets. “This is not the first occasion in 2024 where we’ve seen these types of weapons and the amount of bullets used in a single incident,” Mayor Woodfin remarked. He urged the community to support efforts to find those responsible and remove such dangerous weapons from the streets.
As of now, no arrests have been made. Authorities are appealing to the public for any information that may assist in identifying the perpetrators. Both the police department and local officials have stressed the importance of cooperation from the community in solving the case. “We owe it to the victims to take these shooters and killers off our streets,” said Mayor Woodfin, emphasizing the need for swift action.
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities committed to bringing justice to the victims and their families in the aftermath of this devastating event.
