On Monday, law enforcement in Alabama intensified their search for multiple shooters responsible for a shooting incident in Birmingham’s entertainment area over the weekend, which resulted in the deaths of four individuals and injured 17 others. Authorities have labeled the incident a “hit.”

The shooting occurred around 11 p.m. Saturday in the Five Points South district, a vibrant location filled with shops, bars, and restaurants situated a few blocks from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. This was confirmed by Chief Scott Thurmond during a press briefing.

Three victims were declared dead on the spot, while another succumbed to injuries shortly after reaching a local hospital. The deceased have been identified as Anitra Holloman, 21; Tahj Booker, 27; Carlos McCain, 27; and Roderick Lynn Patterson Jr., 26, according to the Birmingham Police Department.

Seventeen people suffered injuries in the incident, with four individuals facing life-threatening conditions, as conveyed by department spokesperson Truman Fitzgerald in an email.

Officials Suggest Shooters May Have Altered Firearms

Chief Thurmond informed the media that the assailants appeared to be targeting a specific individual—one of the victims—while others were collateral damage caught in the gunfire. Over 100 shell casings were found at the scene, according to Thurmond.

“It seems to be a targeted attack, if you will, on that specific person,” he stated.

Authorities have yet to disclose a motive behind the incident, and the total number of shooters remains uncertain.

During a press conference, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin indicated that the shooters might have equipped their firearms with Glock “switches,” which are devices that modify semiautomatic handguns to fire automatically.

“Regrettably, this is not the first instance this year where we’ve observed this type of weaponry and the number of bullets present in our streets due to automatic firearms,” Woodfin remarked.

Efforts by Alabama state officials to enact a state law mirroring the federal ban on such devices have not succeeded in the previous legislative session.

FBI and ATF Collaborate in Ongoing Investigation

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, alongside the FBI, is collaborating with local law enforcement in probing the incident. Authorities are calling on any witnesses to come forward and have announced a reward of up to $5,000 for actionable information leading to an arrest.

This incident adds to a troubling pattern of violence in Birmingham this year. Back in July, a nightclub shooting resulted in four fatalities, and shortly after, another shooting claimed the lives of three individuals, including a five-year-old child.

“This mindless violence is intolerable and must come to an end,” stated Alabama Representative Terri Sewell, D-Selma, in response to the recent shooting. “As elected officials, we have a responsibility to do everything possible, at every governmental level, to dismantle the cycle of violence, remove dangerous weapons from our streets, and ensure safer communities.”

Contributors: John Bacon, YSL News; Marty Roney and Victor Hagan, Montgomery Advertiser