Alabama, still looking for the perpetrators who killed 4 people and injured 17 others

2024-09-23 16:58:20, Kosova & Bota CNA

Alabama, still looking for the perpetrators who killed 4 people and injured 17

Authorities continue to search for the perpetrators who opened fire on Saturday in Birmingham, Alabama, leaving 4 dead and 17 injured. It is suspected that it is a matter of paid murder targeting one of the people who remained dead.

It's one of several mass shootings this year in Birmingham, and local officials are calling for help to fight crime and tackle gun violence.

So far, no one has been arrested for the incident, which left 4 dead and 17 injured. Authorities are continuing to search for the perpetrators of the attack, which took place in a popular nightlife area in Birmingham, Alabama, shortly after 11 p.m. local time on Saturday.

"Several people participated in the attack. They were in a car, got out of it, opened fire and sped away," said Scott Thurmond, of the Birmingham police.

Two men and a woman were killed at the scene, while the fourth died in hospital. The victims are Anitra Holloman, 21, Tahj Booker, 27, and Carlos McCain, 27, all of Birmingham. They were found dead on a sidewalk in Birmingham's Five Point South area, a popular weekend bar and restaurant area. The fourth victim has not yet been identified.

4 of the 17 injured are in hospital in critical condition.

The authorities believe that it is a case of murder for hire and that the person who was the target is among the dead.

"We believe that the individual who was the target of the attack is among the dead and that someone paid for his murder. This is the information we have so far, it may change as the investigation continues ," said Scott Thurmond from the Birmingham police.

This is the 23rd mass shooting in the United States for 2024, according to forensics expert James Alan Fox. Three of the cases were reported in Birmingham, including an attack in February that left four dead.

The perpetrators opened fire from a car and shot at a group of people. The suspicions are that even in that case, the target was one of the people who remained dead.

The events have alarmed Birmingham residents and prompted calls for local authorities to crack down on crime and tackle the widespread problem of gun violence.

"Elected officials at the local, state and national levels have a duty to solve this American crisis, this American epidemic of gun violence. We should not be authorizing people to carry guns that should not be allowed and to walk the streets with them. No point should be allowed. I don't care what their politics are," said Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin.

The police announced that they found about 100 cartridges at the scene and that they are investigating to find out what weapons were used and if there was an exchange of fire.

The authorities believe that automatic weapons were used in the attack./ VOA