At least 7 killed in separate Birmingham, Alabama shootings, authorities report
Seven dead, 10 injured in separate Birmingham, Alabama shootings; no arrests made.
At least seven people, including a young child, were killed, and multiple others injured in separate shootings over the weekend in Birmingham, Alabama, according to authorities.
The Birmingham Police Department responded to reports of gunfire outside a nightclub just after 11 p.m. Officer Truman Fitzgerald confirmed that officers found multiple victims upon arrival. Tragically, one man, identified as 39-year-old Stevie McGhee, was pronounced dead on a sidewalk near the nightclub. Inside the venue, two women, Markeisha Gettings, 42, and Angela Weatherspoon, 56, were also found deceased.
Authorities later confirmed that Lerandus Anderson, 24, died at UAB Hospital. Police reported that a shooter fired from a car into the nightclub where a birthday party was taking place. An altercation reportedly preceded the shooting, leading to the suspect or suspects driving by and opening fire from the street.
Ten individuals with gunshot wounds were taken to UAB Hospital, either by Birmingham Fire and Rescue or by private vehicles. As of the latest updates, police did not provide information about the conditions of those injured or details about the vehicle used in the attack. The investigation has also drawn assistance from federal law enforcement agencies.
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin addressed the media, expressing his sorrow over the loss of innocent lives. “A lot of innocent people were shot and killed yesterday, and many others were wounded,” he stated. Woodfin urged law enforcement to “hunt down the people who committed these heinous acts,” emphasizing that the shooters deserve no safe harbor from anyone in the community, including their own families and friends.
In a separate incident earlier that day, police responded to a report of a car accident around 5:20 p.m. Upon arrival, officers discovered a wrecked vehicle in a residential front yard. Inside the car were three individuals—a man, a woman, and a young boy—who had sustained gunshot wounds. Birmingham Fire and Rescue personnel confirmed that all three were dead at the scene. The victims were identified as Eric Ashely Jr., 28; Arkia Berry, 28; and Landon Brooks, just 5 years old.
Scott Thurmond, a veteran officer with 26 years on the force and the police chief, expressed the gravity of the situation. He described the day as “probably the most tragic day” in his tenure with the department and stated that all detectives would be assigned to these two cases.
Thurmond assured the community that law enforcement would pursue those responsible for these violent crimes with full force. “For those responsible for those heinous crimes, I want you to know that we will be coming for you with every piece of law enforcement we have,” he warned.
The violence has left the Birmingham community in shock, as authorities continue their investigation into these devastating incidents. The city is grappling with the aftermath of such tragic events, and the calls for justice and safety are resonating throughout the community.