BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A tragic mass shooting in Birmingham’s bustling Five Points South entertainment district left four people dead and 17 others injured late Saturday night. Authorities have made no immediate arrests but believe the attack was a targeted “hit” carried out by multiple shooters who opened fire outside a popular nightclub.
The shooting, which occurred outside the Hush Lounge, has shaken the local community, with bloodstains still visible on the sidewalk the next morning. Birmingham Police Chief Scott Thurmond said the gunmen targeted one of the victims, suggesting it may have been a murder-for-hire.
“A vehicle pulled up, multiple shooters exited and began firing before fleeing the scene,” Thurmond stated. Authorities recovered around 100 shell casings, and some gunfire is believed to have been fully automatic. Police are investigating whether a crossfire occurred, as the shooters may have used devices that make semi-automatic weapons fire more rapidly.
Of the four victims who died, three were pronounced dead at the scene: Anitra Holloman, 21, of Bessemer, Tahj Booker, 27, and Carlos McCain, 27, both of Birmingham. The fourth victim passed away at a hospital, with identification still pending.
Seventeen other individuals were injured, some critically, with survivors being treated at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital.
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin expressed frustration over the rise in gun violence: “We find ourselves at an epidemic level of gun violence, and our city, unfortunately, is at the forefront of this crisis.”
As investigators work to apprehend those responsible, the mayor has urged the community to come together to address the broader issue of gun violence in Birmingham. A press conference is expected Monday to provide further updates.
