A mass shooting outside a popular hookah bar in Birmingham, Alabama, on September 23, 2024, resulted in four fatalities and over a dozen injuries, with authorities suspecting it may have been a targeted murder-for-hire operation.
The incident occurred in the busy Five Points South entertainment district when multiple shooters reportedly exited a vehicle and opened fire. Birmingham Police Chief Scott Thurmond indicated that there was likely a targeted hit on one of the victims.
The deceased include Anitra Holloman, 21; Tahj Booker, 27; and Carlos McCain, 27, all pronounced dead at the scene. A fourth victim, whose identity has not yet been released, died later at a hospital. Authorities are still determining the intended target among the victims.
In total, 17 individuals sustained injuries, some of which are life-threatening. Police recovered around 100 shell casings from the scene and are investigating the types of weapons used, with indications that some gunfire was fully automatic.
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin emphasized the urgency of locating the shooters and expressed frustration over the rising gun violence in the city, describing it as an epidemic crisis. A news conference is scheduled for Monday to provide further updates.