A mass shooting in Birmingham, Alabama, has left at least four people dead and 18 others injured, according to police reports.
“Several shooters fired multiple shots at a group of people” late Saturday in the Five Points South area, said Birmingham police officer Truman Fitzgerald.
Authorities found the bodies of two men and one woman at the scene, while a third man later died from his injuries in the hospital.
Investigators are looking into whether the shooters approached the victims on foot or drove by, but no suspects have been arrested so far.
Authorities believe the shooting was “not random and stemmed from an isolated incident where multiple victims were caught in the crossfire.” Investigators are working to determine the intended target or targets of the attack.
The police are collaborating with the FBI and other federal agencies, offering a $5,000 reward for information.
They have also opened a web portal for submitting photos and videos related to the incident. The shooting occurred on Magnolia Avenue in the Five Points South district, known for its nightlife.
Witnesses outside a hookah and cigar lounge reported that some gunfire appeared to come from a weapon converted to fully automatic.
Earlier, Officer Truman Fitzgerald noted that there were “dozens of gunshot victims” following the incident.
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin attributed the violence to “Glock switches,” devices that enable handguns to fire automatically.
He stated on social media that these switches are the “number one public safety issue in our city and state,” emphasizing that such modifications do not belong on domestic streets.
He also noted that while the city cannot outlaw Glock switches, only the state can.
So far this year, there have been over 400 mass shootings across the US, as defined by the Gun Violence Archive, which categorises a mass shooting as any incident resulting in four or more injuries or deaths.
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