Mass shooting outside a popular bar in Alabama The incident that left four people dead and over a dozen injured may have been a “hit-for-hire” job, police said – as the search for the gunmen was intensified.
Authorities believe the shooting at a popular hookah bar in Birmingham's busy Five Points South entertainment district late Saturday night was a targeted attack after “multiple shooters” were seen jumping from a vehicle, opening fire and then fleeing.
Birmingham Police Chief Scott Thurmond said, “We believe that particular individual was 'assaulted.'”
Three of the victims — Anitra Holloman, 21; Tahj Booker, 27; and Carlos McCain, 27 — were pronounced dead at the scene after they were found on the sidewalk with gunshot wounds.
The fourth victim, whose name police have not released until he is identified, was pronounced dead at a hospital.
It was not immediately clear which victim was targeted.
By Sunday morning, a large number of victims began arriving at various hospitals and police identified 17 people injured in the firing, some of whom were in life-threatening situations.
Meanwhile, police said that about 100 cartridge shells have been recovered from the spot.
Investigators are still trying to figure it out Determining what weapons were usedBut he believes some of the shootings were “fully automatic,” Thurmond said.
Officials were also trying to ascertain if anyone fired back, leading to the gunfight.
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin said the main focus now is on locating the suspects.
“Our priority is to find these shooters and get them off our streets,” Woodfin said a day after the shooting.
The mayor, who plans to hold a news conference Monday to provide the latest on the matter, expressed dismay at what he called an epidemic of gun violence in the wake of the latest bloodshed.
“We find ourselves in 2024 when gun violence will be at epidemic levels, when our country will be at an epidemic level. And unfortunately the city of Birmingham finds itself at the tip of that spear,” he said.
post with wires
