Chaos erupted late Saturday night in Birmingham, Alabama as a mass shooting claimed the lives of four people and left at least 18 others injured in the 5 Points South entertainment district.
The popular area known for its lively bars and restaurants, was transformed into a crime scene just after 11 p.m. when a heated argument escalated into a barrage of gunfire.
According to reports from AL.com, the violence occurred near the intersection of 20th Street and Magnolia Avenue, where victims were reportedly waiting to enter Hush, a popular hookah and cigar lounge.
First responders arrived to find two men and a woman unresponsive on the sidewalk, all suffering from gunshot wounds, and tragically, they were pronounced dead at the scene. A fourth victim was rushed to UAB but succumbed to injuries shortly after.
WATCH VIDEO OF BIRMINGHAM MASS SHOOTING CRIME SCENE:
Birmingham Officer Truman Fitzgerald shared with the press that additional victims were discovered scattered throughout the area, as detectives worked to piece together the events leading up to the shooting.
Investigators are currently investigating whether the assailants approached their targets on foot or from a vehicle.
Birmingham shooting victims were out in the open when they were shot
Fitzgerald said that the victims were all “out in the open“ when the gunfire erupted.
“This was on a sidewalk or a city street,” Fitzgerald said.
Authorities believe this was not a random act of violence, but rather an isolated incident where innocent bystanders found themselves caught in the crossfire.
A staggering total of 22 people were shot, with the surviving 18 facing a range of injuries, from non-life-threatening to critical, as reported by WVTM13. As the investigation continues as police seek to determine whether the gunmen used ‘switches’.
Birmingham Police Chief Scott Thurmond said the shooting may have been a murder-for-hire and that more than 100 shell casings were collected at the scene.
As the search for the suspects continues, law enforcement is urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward.
