Four people were killed and 17 injured in Birmingham, Alabama, during a mass shooting that police suspect was an intentional “hit.”
The Birmingham Police Department (BPD) was alerted to the scene of the incident on Saturday, Sept. 21, at about 11 p.m., after reports of numerous bullets fired outside hookah club Hush on the 2000 Block of Magnolia Avenue South, according to a news release.
Officers arrived to find two adult males and one adult female unresponsive on the sidewalk, each with several gunshot wounds. Officials pronounced the three people dead on the site, while the third casualty, an adult male, was later confirmed dead at a hospital.
Police stated the event resulted in 17 other gunshot victims, with injuries ranging from “non-life-threatening to life-threatening.”
Three of the fatalities have been identified: Anitra Holloman, 21, of Bessemer; Tahj Booker, 27, of Birmingham; and Carlos McCain, 27, of Birmingham.
Following an initial investigation, the BPD discovered that there are numerous suspects in the shooting, which they believe “stemmed from an isolated incident where multiple victims were caught in the crossfire.”
Birmingham authorities Chief Scott Thurmond stated at a press conference on September 22 that authorities believe the criminals were targeting one of the deceased.
“We believe that there was a hit, if you will, on that particular person, as far as someone willing to pay money to have that person killed,” according to him.
Thurmond further stated that police are unsure why the man was targeted, and that the shooting did not appear to be related to any altercations or other incidents at nearby businesses.
When reporters inquired about ties to the July mass shooting in Birmingham, which killed seven people and has yet to be solved, Thurmond stated that police believe the Sept. 21 attack is unrelated.
Investigators believe the perpetrators used a fully automatic weapon, as “approximately over 100 shell casings” were found at the scene, along with “numerous other pieces of evidence.” The suspects arrived at the location in a car, which they then departed in, according to the chief.
During the press conference, Thurmond and Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin urged residents to come forward with any information about the “extremely unfortunate” shooting.
Thurmond also explored how the event affected everyone involved, from first responders and medical workers to the victims caught in the crossfire on their Saturday night out.
“There were individuals there who were just trying to enjoy themselves, who just wanted to have a nice evening and this occurred, and now they’re injured,” he told CNN. “They’ve got injuries that they’ll have to live with for the rest of their life, the trauma, the mental anguish they’ve had to go through … it’s difficult.”
“It’s difficult for everyone that this touches,” according to him.
The BPD is working with the Alabama Field Offices and the FBI on the investigation, which is ongoing. No one is in custody.
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