The Alabama shooting occurred in the Five Points South area, a nightlife district near the University of Alabama at Birmingham. This area is known for its bars, restaurants, nightclubs and live music venues. Multiple shooters drove into the area, got out of their vehicle, opened fire on the crowd and then fled the scene.
Police believe the attack was a targeted hit intended to eliminate one individual with many other bystanders being caught in the crossfire. Four people were killed and 17 others were injured in the attack. Three victims died at the scene, while the fourth passed away at the hospital.
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The Alabama shooting occurred in the Five Points South district, a popular hub in Birmingham especially on weekend nights. The district is home to numerous restaurants, bars and live music venues, regularly attracting large crowds.
The Alabama shooting took place late on Saturday night, just after 11:00 p.m. CST on September 22, 2024. The shooting unfolded on Magnolia Avenue.
According to Birmingham Police Officer Truman Fitzgerald, multiple gunmen opened fire on a large group of people standing outside. The shooters approached the group in a vehicle, exited and began shooting indiscriminately.
Police discovered over 100 shell casings at the scene. Eyewitnesses reported that some of the gunfire sounded as if it came from fully automatic weapons.
Two men and one woman were found dead at the scene by Birmingham Fire and Rescue officers. A fourth victim, an adult male, succumbed to his injuries at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital.
Alabama Shooting: The Four Victims Were Later Identified:
- Anitra Holloman, 21
- Tahj Booker, 27
- Carlos McCain, 27
- The fourth victim’s identity remains undisclosed at this time.
The remaining 18 victims were rushed to UAB Hospital. Four of these individuals sustained life-threatening injuries and remain in critical condition. The injuries were among those who had been standing outside at the time of the shooting.
Birmingham Police Chief Scott Thurmond suggested that the attack stemmed from an incident in which multiple victims were caught in the crossfire.
Local reports including from Al.com suggest that the incident may have been the result of a murder-for-hire scheme. Chief Thurmond noted that the intended target of the shooting was among those killed.
The shooters approached the crowded area in a vehicle, exited the car, fired multiple rounds and then fled. The police recovered more than 100 shell casings from the scene.
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Police believe the attackers used machine gun conversion devices. These devices can convert semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic weapons.
The use of such devices concerns about the increasing availability and misuse of illegal gun modifications in the city.
According to Birmingham Police Chief Scott Thurmond, the shooters were targeting a specific individual. The investigation is ongoing to determine the target and motive.
The Birmingham Police Department is leading the investigation with assistance from the FBI and other agencies. No suspects have been arrested yet and the police are actively searching for any information about the shooters.
Authorities have urged local businesses in the area to provide any surveillance footage that may assist in identifying the suspects.
The White House and the Office of Gun Violence Prevention have been in communication with local and state officials.
President Biden and Vice President Harris expressed their condolences to the victims’ families and condemned the growing gun violence in the country.
A significant point of raised by both local authorities and the public has been the use of Glock switches, devices that can convert semi-automatic handguns into fully automatic weapons. These switches are not explicitly banned in Alabama under state law.
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin pointed out that these illegal devices are currently the number one public safety issue in the city and state.
He addressed the urgency of outlawing Glock switches at the state level, arguing that semi-automatic weapons modified to fire automatically “don’t belong on our domestic streets.”
The Birmingham Police Department has launched a full-scale investigation into the incident, working closely with federal agencies including the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF).
Authorities have set up a web portal for witnesses to submit photos and videos related to the shooting. Additionally, a $5,000 reward has been announced for information leading to the identification and arrest of the shooters.
Although crime rates in the US have been declining overall, Birmingham has seen a spike in violent crime in 2024. According to FBI data, the city reported 17 murders by March 2024, a 41.7% increase from the same period in 2023.
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