Mass shooting rocks major Alabama city as four killed and at least 21 injured in cigar lounge bloodbath
Four people were killed in a mass shooting in Alabama last night.
Shortly after 11 p.m. Saturday night, shots were fired at the Five Points South cigar lounge in Birmingham, injuring at least 21 people.
Two men and a woman were killed at the scene in the 2000 block of Magnolia Avenue, near the University of Alabama, while a fourth victim died at the hospital.
Detectives are investigating whether the shooters, who are still at large, walked toward the victims or drove past them, Officer Truman Fitzgerald said.
Police suspect multiple shooters are responsible for the horrific mass shooting, but no suspects had been arrested as of Sunday morning.
Birmingham Police vehicles near the scene where multiple people were shot Saturday night
“Rest assured, we will do everything we can to find, identify and prosecute those responsible for the exploitation of our people,” Fitzgerald added.
According to the officer, additional shooting victims were identified in the area and more victims were taken to local hospitals.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital is treating 11 of the victims, said Hannah Echols, a hospital spokesperson. CNN.
The condition of the victims has not yet been released. Police said they were all outside on the sidewalk or in the street when the shooting occurred.
“There are dozens of shooting victims in this area,” Fitzgerald said. “I’ve heard that at least four of those victims have life-threatening injuries, the others have multiple injuries.”
Streets in the area have been closed off while police investigate the incident.
Fitzgerald revealed that local authorities have asked the FBI and ATF for assistance.
Birmingham police have asked local businesses to provide any CCTV footage they may have, and have asked the public to contact them if they have any relevant information.
Five Points South is a popular nightlife area near the campus of the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Two men and a woman were killed at the scene in the 2000 block of Magnolia Avenue in the Five Points South area (pictured) near the University of Alabama
Fitzgerald said the mass shootings “have more to do with culture than with criminality,” adding that “we see far too many arguments being settled with bullets.”
Witnesses described a chaotic scene as police worked to contain the area and help victims.
“I walked upstairs just as it was ending because everyone was screaming, there were people crying,” Dajon Singleton said WVTM.
According to the US government, there have been more than 400 mass shootings in the US this year. Gun Violence Archivewhich defines a mass shooting as an incident in which four or more people are injured or killed.