A tragic incident unfolded in Birmingham, Alabama’s bustling Five Points South district on Saturday night, resulting in the death of four individuals and injuries to at least 21 others. The area, known for its vibrant nightlife, was the scene of a shooting that erupted just after 11 p.m. near 20th Street and Magnolia Ave. The Birmingham Police Department is actively pursuing those responsible for the incident.
Initial reports suggest that the victims were in line to enter Hush, a popular hookah and cigar lounge in the area, when the shooting occurred. The first responders on the scene found two men and a woman unresponsive on the sidewalk, all suffering from gunshot wounds. They were pronounced dead at the scene. A fourth victim was transported to UAB Hospital, where they later succumbed to their injuries.
Birmingham Officer Truman Fitzgerald informed the press that multiple additional gunshot victims were located in the vicinity of the incident. Birmingham Fire and Rescue transported eight victims to local hospitals, while others arrived via private vehicles. The exact number of victims remains unconfirmed as the situation continues to evolve.
Fitzgerald explained that the victims were all “out in the open,” either on the sidewalk or in the street when the shooting occurred. He added, “We believe that multiple shooters fired multiple shots on a group of people.” The police are urging the public to share any information they may have about the shooting.
The Birmingham Police Department is committed to bringing the perpetrators to justice. Fitzgerald assured, “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.”
Detectives are currently investigating whether the shooters were on foot or in a vehicle, and if they used switches, a device that can convert a semi-automatic gun into a fully automatic weapon. This incident marks the second mass shooting in Birmingham this year. On July 13, a drive-by shooting at an adult birthday party resulted in four deaths and nine injuries.
Fitzgerald concluded by echoing Mayor Randall Woodfin’s sentiments, “These mass shootings have more to do with culture then they do criminality. We’re seeing far too many arguments being settled by bullets.”