A mass shooting [1] in Birmingham, Alabama, on Saturday night left four people dead and at least 18 others [2] injured in the city’s popular Five Points South entertainment district.
The violent attack occurred just after 11 p.m. near 20th Street and Magnolia Avenue, as crowds gathered in the area known for its nightlife, restaurants, and bars.
Birmingham police responded to the scene after reports of multiple gunshots. Officer Truman Fitzgerald confirmed that two men and one woman were found unresponsive on the sidewalk, suffering from gunshot wounds, and were pronounced dead at the scene.
A fourth victim later died at UAB Hospital. Additionally, Birmingham Fire and Rescue transported eight other victims to local hospitals, while several more were taken by private vehicles.
The injuries of the surviving victims ranged from non-life-threatening to critical, police said.
The initial reports indicated that the victims were waiting to enter Hush, a local hookah and cigar lounge.
According to Officer Fitzgerald, the attack appeared to involve multiple shooters, who fired numerous rounds into a crowd of people in the open. “We believe that multiple shooters fired multiple shots on a group of people,” Fitzgerald stated, adding that police were investigating whether the shooters were on foot or in a vehicle and if they were using “switches,” a device that converts a semi-automatic firearm into a fully automatic weapon.
Authorities have not yet identified any suspects, and no arrests have been made as of Sunday.
Officer Fitzgerald assured the public that law enforcement is working tirelessly to track down those responsible. “Rest assured we are gonna do everything we possibly can to make sure that we uncover, identify, and hunt down who is ever responsible for this preying on our people this morning,” he said.
The incident took place in one of Birmingham’s busiest districts, near the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Five Points South is a popular spot for nightlife, frequently drawing large crowds on Saturday nights.
Streets around the area were blocked off as police and other law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), continue their investigation into the shooting.
Detectives believe the shooting was not a random act of violence but rather stemmed from an isolated incident in which several victims were caught in the crossfire.
However, police have not yet determined who the gunmen were targeting.
The Birmingham Police Department has called on the public to provide any information they may have regarding the incident.
They have indicated that a reward may be available for tips leading to the identification and arrest of the shooters.
Officer Fitzgerald emphasized the importance of community involvement in solving this case, urging anyone with knowledge of the event to come forward.
Saturday night’s tragedy marks the second mass shooting in Birmingham this year.
On July 13, four people were killed and nine others injured during a drive-by shooting at an adult birthday party in the city, another stark reminder of the growing gun violence problem in the area.
“These mass shootings have more to do with culture than they do criminality,” Officer Fitzgerald noted, echoing recent remarks by Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin. “Mayor Woodfin said it best this weekend, ‘we’re seeing far too many arguments being settled by bullets,’ and I think this speaks to exactly what our mayor recently said,” Fitzgerald added.
As authorities work to gather more information about the perpetrators and their motives, the city grapples with yet another devastating incident that has left families mourning and a community searching for answers.
As the investigation progresses, law enforcement will continue to focus on uncovering the details of the shooting and bringing those responsible to justice.
The Birmingham Police Department is urging anyone with information to come forward and help in the effort to solve this tragic case.