The White House issued a statement on Sunday, condemning gun violence after a mass shooting in a popular nightlife district in Birmingham, Alabama, resulted in four deaths and at least 17 others being wounded. Gun Violence Prevention Director Stef Feldman expressed horror at the national epidemic of gun violence, with President Biden and Vice President Harris offering prayers for the affected families. The White House is coordinating with federal, state, and local officials as investigations into the shooting are ongoing. Feldman emphasized that Americans should not have to live in fear of gun violence and urged for it to not become normalized. There have been over 400 mass shootings this year alone, leading President Biden to repeatedly state that enough is enough.
The shooting took place in the Five Points South area near the University of Alabama at Birmingham, resulting in the deaths of two men and a woman at the scene with a fourth victim dying at the hospital. Authorities have identified three out of the four victims and believe the shooting was not random but stemmed from an isolated incident involving multiple victims getting caught in the crossfire. Birmingham Police Chief Scott Thurmond stated that he believes the shooting was a targeted hit, with the victim being paid for, and confirmed that the weapons used were fully automatic. Police found more than 100 shell casings at the scene and are reviewing video surveillance to identify the shooters. No suspects are currently in custody, and authorities are urging the public to provide any information that could lead to an arrest.
Thurmond emphasized the importance of taking the shooters off the streets to ensure justice for the victims and their families. He expressed condolences to all those affected by the shooting, as 21 lives were forever changed and families were destroyed or altered as a result. Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin echoed these sentiments, expressing his heartfelt condolences and calling for the community to come together to support the victims and their families. Authorities are urging the public to come forward with any information that could help lead to an arrest, as the investigation into the mass shooting continues.
The Birmingham Police Department responded to reports of gunfire shortly after 11 p.m., with the shooting resulting in the deaths of three victims at the scene and a fourth victim at the hospital. Victims were identified as Anitra Holloman, 21, of Bessemer, Alabama, Tahj Booker, 27, and Carlos McCain, 27, both from Birmingham. The fourth victim, an adult male, died at the hospital, with his identification pending. Police believe the shooting was not random and stemmed from a targeted incident, with multiple victims caught in the crossfire. Authorities confirmed that the weapons used were fully automatic, and evidence suggests that there were several shooters involved. Video surveillance is being reviewed to determine the target of the shooting.
The White House, through Gun Violence Prevention Director Stef Feldman, has expressed concern over the increasing number of mass shootings in the United States, emphasizing that Americans should not have to live in fear of gun violence and calling for an end to the normalization of such incidents. President Biden and Vice President Harris have offered prayers for the families affected by the mass shooting in Birmingham, Alabama, and the White House is working closely with federal, state, and local officials to assist in the ongoing investigations. Birmingham authorities believe the shooting was a targeted hit, with evidence suggesting multiple shooters were involved and are urging the public to provide any information that could help lead to an arrest.
