Four killed, 18 injured in mass shooting in Birmingham, Alabama

ALABAMA — At least four people were killed and 18 others injured in a mass shooting in Birmingham, Alabama, according to police.

The incident occurred late Saturday in the Five Points South area, known for its nightlife.

Birmingham police officer Truman Fitzgerald reported that “multiple shooters fired multiple shots on a group of people.”

Officers discovered the bodies of two men and one woman at the scene, while a third man later succumbed to his injuries in the hospital.

Detectives are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting, including whether the assailants approached the victims on foot or drove by. No suspects have been arrested at this time.

Fitzgerald noted that authorities believe the shooting was “not random” and originated from an isolated incident, with multiple victims caught in the crossfire. Investigators are working to determine the intended target or targets of the attack.

Witnesses at the scene, who were waiting outside a hookah and cigar lounge on Magnolia Avenue, reported that some gunfire sounded as if it originated from a weapon converted to fully automatic.

Earlier in the day, Fitzgerald had mentioned to reporters that there were “dozens of gunshot victims” following the incident.

This shooting adds to a troubling trend, with over 400 mass shootings reported across the United States so far this year, as defined by the Gun Violence Archive, which considers a mass shooting to involve four or more people injured or killed. — Agencies