Multiple Shootings Leave Four Dead, 17 Injured in Birmingham Nightlife District

(BIRMINGHAM, Ala.) — A shooting incident on Saturday night in Birmingham, Alabama, resulted in the deaths of four individuals and injuries to 17 others. Police have described the incident as a targeted “hit” directed at one of the deceased individuals, which occurred at a popular nightlife establishment.

The shooting transpired shortly after 11 p.m. on Saturday in Five Points South, a district known for its entertainment venues, restaurants, and bars, which is often crowded on weekend evenings. This mass shooting, one among several that have occurred in the city this year, has caused concern among residents in the area, leading city officials to request assistance in resolving the crime and addressing the broader issue of gun violence.

“The priority is to find these shooters and get them off our streets,” Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin stated at a Sunday press conference.

The shooting took place outside Hush, a hookah and cigar lounge, located within the entertainment district. Evidence of blood stains was visible on the sidewalk outside the venue on Sunday morning.

Birmingham Police Chief Scott Thurmond indicated that authorities believe the shooting was targeted toward one of the individuals killed, possibly as a murder-for-hire. He explained that a vehicle pulled up, and “multiple shooters” exited the vehicle and began firing before fleeing the scene.

“We believe that there was a ‘hit,’ if you will, on that particular person,” Thurmond stated.

Police reported that approximately 100 shell casings were recovered from the scene. Thurmond indicated that law enforcement was working to identify the types of weapons used, but they believe some of the gunfire was “fully automatic.” Investigators are also attempting to determine whether any individuals returned fire, leading to crossfire.

Police reported finding two men and a woman on a sidewalk with gunshot wounds, who were pronounced dead at the scene. An additional male gunshot victim was pronounced dead at a hospital, according to police.

By early Sunday, after victims began arriving at hospitals, police had identified 17 individuals with injuries, some of which were considered life-threatening.

The area of Birmingham is popular among young adults due to its proximity to the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the abundance of nearby restaurants and bars.

Geoffrey Boshell, a 22-year-old biomedical engineering student residing nearby, said he was working on a school project when he heard a burst of rapid pops that he described as sounding like automatic gunfire.

“I heard it, looked out my window and immediately see people screaming, fleeing the scene,” Boshell said.

The shooting in the bustling and popular area was disconcerting, he said. “I’m not sure scared is the right word. Just very disturbed that it was happening right outside where you are living.”

Ashton Mills, 24, who resides in a nearby apartment complex, was on her way to work on Saturday night when she heard a “bunch of popping sounds.”

“It’s scary, especially as a single woman walking around the city,” she said. “I’m definitely a lot more on guard.”

Woodfin expressed frustration with what he described as an epidemic of gun violence in America.

“We find ourselves in 2024, where gun violence is at an epidemic level, an epidemic crisis in our country. And the city of Birmingham, unfortunately finds itself at the tip of that spear,” he said.

The Birmingham mayor also urged state and federal officials to provide cities with more tools to address gun violence. He gestured with his hands behind his back to illustrate the challenges faced by cities in combating crime. Alabama last year eliminated the requirement to obtain a permit for carrying a concealed handgun in public.

Woodfun stated that there is an “element” in the city that is too comfortable carrying Glock switches — devices that convert semi-automatic handguns to deliver more rapid fire — and assault-style rifles with the intent of causing harm.

“Elected officials locally, statewide and nationally have a duty to solve this American crisis, this American epidemic of gun violence,” the mayor said.

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Associated Press writer Jonathan Mattise in Nashville, Tennessee, contributed to this report.