A devastating mass shooting in Birmingham, Alabama, left four people dead and 18 others injured late Saturday night, as multiple shooters opened fire in the city’s popular Five Points South entertainment district. The incident, which occurred just after 11 p.m., has sent shockwaves through the community and added to the growing list of mass shootings in the United States this year.

According to Birmingham Police Officer Truman Fitzgerald, the shooters targeted a group of people in the bustling nightlife area, known for its restaurants, pubs, and live music venues. When police arrived at the scene, they found two men and a woman unresponsive with gunshot wounds. All three were pronounced dead on the scene. A fourth victim, an adult male, later died at the University of Alabama Hospital. Several other victims were rushed to local hospitals, with at least four in life-threatening condition.

While investigators believe the shooting stemmed from an isolated incident rather than a random attack, no suspects have been apprehended yet. Birmingham Police are collaborating with the FBI and other agencies to investigate, urging the public to come forward with any information. Surveillance footage from nearby businesses is also being reviewed in hopes of identifying those responsible. Officer Fitzgerald assured the public, “We are going to do everything we possibly can to uncover, identify, and hunt down whoever was responsible.”

This shooting marks yet another tragic event in a year already plagued by gun violence. According to the Gun Violence Archive, the United States has seen at least 403 mass shootings in 2024, with mass shootings defined as incidents where at least four people are shot, excluding the shooter. Birmingham itself has experienced multiple mass shootings this year, including a nightclub shooting in July that left four dead and 10 injured, and another in February that killed four men outside a public library.

The Five Points South area, located near the University of Alabama at Birmingham, is a well-known hotspot for nightlife and student activity. The victims were all in open areas on sidewalks or streets when the gunfire erupted. Police are working to determine if the shooters approached on foot or fired from a vehicle. As the investigation continues, the Birmingham community is left reeling from yet another senseless act of violence.