Alabama officials are seeking the public’s help in solving a mass shooting that occurred in Birmingham over the weekend. The shooting resulted in the death of four individuals and left more than a dozen others injured. Police Chief Scott Thurmond stated that they are still going through tips and investigating the incident. Five of the injured victims are still receiving treatment at the hospital.
Authorities have announced rewards of up to $100,000 for information that leads to arrests in connection with the shooting. The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward, and Crime Stoppers is offering an additional $50,000. Tipsters can provide information anonymously to assist with the investigation.
The shooting took place outside a popular nightspot in Birmingham’s Five Points South district, where multiple shooters carried out a targeted attack. Mayor Randall Woodfin emphasized the importance of capturing and bringing to justice those responsible for the mass shooting. The incident has deeply affected the community, with residents left shaken by the violence.
The area where the shooting occurred is usually lively with restaurants and bars on weekend nights. The incident has raised concerns about gun violence in the city and prompted officials to call for both solving the crime and addressing the broader issue of gun violence.
Authorities believe that the shooting was targeted at one of the individuals who was killed, possibly as a murder-for-hire. The shooters arrived in a vehicle, opened fire, and then fled the scene. Police recovered about 100 shell casings and are investigating the use of fully automatic weapons in the attack.
In a statement, police mentioned that the shooters may have used “machine gun conversion devices” to increase the firing rate of their weapons. Three individuals were found dead at the scene, with a fourth victim succumbing to injuries at the hospital. The victims have been identified as Anitra Holloman, Tahj Booker, and Carlos McCain, with the fourth victim pending identification.
According to criminologist James Alan Fox, the Birmingham shooting marks the 31st mass killing of the year, with 23 of them involving shootings. This incident is among three mass shootings that have taken place in Birmingham this year, highlighting the urgency of addressing gun violence in the city.
The plea for public assistance and the rewards offered underscore the importance of community cooperation in solving such crimes and bringing the perpetrators to justice. The authorities are calling on anyone with information to come forward and help in resolving this tragic incident that has impacted the lives of many individuals in Birmingham.
