Mass shooting in Birmingham’s Five Points South: 4 dead, dozens injured.

Gunfire erupted in Birmingham’s Five Points South entertainment district Saturday night, claiming the lives of four people and injuring at least 21 others. The shooting occurred just after 11 p.m. on Magnolia Avenue South, outside the Hush hookah and cigar lounge, where clubgoers were waiting in line. Witnesses reported that some of the gunfire appeared to come from a weapon fitted with a “switch,” a device that converts a semi-automatic firearm to fully automatic.

The Birmingham Police Department is still investigating whether the incident was a drive-by shooting or if the assailants were on foot. When South Precinct officers arrived, they found two men and a woman unresponsive on the sidewalk, with a fourth victim later dying at UAB Hospital. Emergency responders transported eight other injured individuals from the scene, while more victims turned up at local hospitals.

Officer Truman Fitzgerald stated that at least four of the victims sustained life-threatening injuries. Multiple shooters are believed to have fired into the crowd on Magnolia Avenue. Despite the chaos, no arrests have been made yet. Fitzgerald urged the public to come forward with any information, including surveillance footage from nearby businesses, emphasizing that even small details could be crucial to the investigation.

The Birmingham Police Department has also enlisted help from federal agencies, including the ATF and FBI, to assist in the search for those responsible. “Rest assured, we are going to do everything we possibly can to uncover, identify, and hunt down whoever was responsible for preying on our people,” Fitzgerald said.

Hundreds of people were in the area when the shooting occurred, drawn to the bustling entertainment district on a Saturday night. Although the area has seen increased attention from law enforcement due to recent incidents, Fitzgerald highlighted the importance of surveillance cameras in the vicinity, noting that businesses could provide vital footage.

Birmingham has already faced a grim year with 122 homicides, up from 118 prior to this incident. Alabama lawmakers are considering legislation to outlaw the use of “switches” like the one believed to have been used in this attack, with proposed penalties including up to 10 years in state prison for possession.

This marks the third quadruple homicide in Birmingham in 2023. A drive-by shooting at an adult birthday party in July left four people dead and nine others injured, and in February, four men were killed in another drive-by shooting in the Smithfield neighborhood. No arrests have been made in either of these mass shootings.

Fitzgerald emphasized that these incidents are often the result of cultural issues rather than criminal ones, referencing Mayor Randall Woodfin’s recent comments about the increase in violent arguments being settled with bullets.

Though Birmingham’s homicide rate fell by 6.25% in 2023 after years of rising numbers, the city remains plagued by violence. In 2022, there were 144 homicides, marking the deadliest year in recent history, though 1933 still holds the record with 148 homicides.

Fitzgerald also took the opportunity to thank Birmingham Fire and Rescue and UAB Hospital for their critical work in treating the victims, noting the stress and trauma that first responders endure in situations like this.

Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to contact Birmingham Police at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.

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