Police, Feds Investigate Mass Shooting that Killed 4, Injured 17

Local and federal agents are searching for people with information about a deadly mass shooting that left four people dead and at least 17 others injured outside a Birmingham club Saturday night.

The shooting happened just after 11 p.m. in the 2000 block of Magnolia Avenue South, as people were standing in line to get into Hush, a hookah and cigar lounge.

Birmingham Police Chief Scott Thurmond said the shooting may have been a murder-for-hire and that more than 100 shell casings were collected at the scene.

Here’s what we know so far about the deadly shooting. This story will be updated as more information is available.

How can people help?

Police and Mayor Randall Woodfin are urging anyone with any information to speak with officers. Businesses in the area are being urged to share surveillance video.

You can submit information to police here. You can also call investigators at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.

Who was killed?

Police identified the four people killed as Antria Holloman, 21, Tahj Booker, 27, Carlos McCain, 27, and Roderick Lynn Patterson Jr., 26.

Who was injured?

Police estimate that 17 people were hurt in the shooting and ensuing chaos.

Gabriel Eslami, 24, of Trussville, was among the many injured.

“It’s just gun smoke and peoples’ bodies laid out on the pavement,’’ he said. “Physically, it’s hard to walk, but by the Grace of God, it didn’t hit anything major.”

University of Alabama at Birmingham spokesperson Alicia Rohan said on Sunday evening that UAB Hospital has treated 12 victims, total.

“This included one deceased victim brought to UAB Hospital from the scene, per the Birmingham Police Department,” she said. “We are currently treating 4 victims with conditions ranging from good to critical.”

How did the shooting occur?

Multiple shooters pulled up in a car, Thurmond said, got out and fired shots and then drove away.

The targeted victim in the murder-for-hire was likely found at the scene by the shooters. “Wherever that (targeted) person was is where it was going to take place,” Thurmond said.

Who are suspects in the shooting?

As of Sunday morning, police have not identified the suspects or people of interest.

A related shooting?

On Sunday night, three people were shot in the South East Lake community, specifically the 700 block of 81st Place South. A man injured in that shooting died.

“One of our personnel received intel that this may be related (to the Five Points South shootings),’’ said Officer Truman Fitzgerald. “So anytime we have a community member willing to step up and give information, we’re going to investigate that the best we can.”

Was the Hush Lounge involved?

Ryan Pryor, who opened Hush in 2019 and retired after 20 years as a Birmingham police officer in March, was at his club when shots rang out.

“I would like to stress that this had nothing to do with Hush itself. My heart goes out to the families, and I stand with Birmingham on correcting this violence. This gun violence has to stop,” Pryor said.

On Sunday morning, Pryor was preparing to reopen the business.

“We need to try to get back to some kind of normalcy,” he said.

Hush, at 2012 Magnolia Ave., is a speakeasy-style lounge located in the underground space at Pickwick Place retail center. The club often features bottle service, parties, DJs and recently celebrated its fifth-year anniversary in June.

What are officials saying?

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin asked Sunday morning for help from state officials to regulate conversion devices that turn guns into automatic weapons.

“Converting a semi-automatic weapon into a fully automatic weapon that discharges all bullets within seconds doesn’t belong on our domestic streets,” Woodfin said in a Facebook post Sunday morning. “This shouldn’t be up for debate. This morning, too many families have to pick up the pieces of an unfair new normal that doesn’t include their love one.”

How many people have died in homicides in Birmingham in 2024?

After weekend violence, there have been 12 h3omicides thus far this year.

Birmingham’s homicide total in 2023 dropped 6.25%. It was the first time in five years the number of killings in the city had dropped after years of steady increases.

The city ended 2023 with 135 homicides, a 6.25% drop over 2022 which had 144 homicides. Birmingham’s 2022 homicide total was the deadliest year in recentcity history.

Birmingham’s all-time record for homicides was in 1933 with 148 slayings.

The city’s population in 1933 was nearly 260,000. Birmingham’s population in 2023 was nearly 197,000, according to Census data.

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