Police are offering a reward of $50,000 for information leading to the capture of suspects involved in a shooting in Birmingham, Alabama, which left four people dead and 17 others injured. The incident occurred late Saturday night near Magnolia Avenue South in a nightlife area. Officials described the shooting as a targeted attack carried out by multiple gunmen who seemed to aim for a specific individual.
The incident took place shortly after 11 PM local time as patrons were waiting to enter a hookah lounge. Birmingham police chief Scott Thurmond characterized the shooting as a planned assault rather than a random act. Witnesses reported that the assailants exited a vehicle and opened fire on the crowd, using high-capacity firearms, as indicated by the discovery of around 100 shell casings at the scene. Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin pointed to the proliferation of “Glock switches,” devices that enable handguns to fire automatically, as a significant public safety concern.
The victims included 21-year-old Anitra Holloman and three men: 27-year-olds Tahj Booker and Carlos McCain, and 26-year-old Roderick Lynn Patterson Jr., all from Birmingham. While Holloman, Booker, and McCain were declared dead at the scene, Patterson Jr. succumbed to his injuries later at the hospital. The targeted individual was reportedly among the deceased, indicating that the shooting may have been motivated by a contract killing, as suggested by police based on information they received. They believe the attack was intentional due to the criminal histories of several victims.
Among the injured, the severity of wounds varied, with some victims in critical condition. Five individuals remained hospitalized. One victim, Gabriel Eslami, recounted being shot while waiting in line, describing the scene as chaotic and bloody.
As of now, police have not made any arrests, but investigations are ongoing, with support from federal agencies like the ATF and FBI. The search continues for the perpetrators, and authorities are piecing together details of what appears to be a planned assault.