BIRMINGHAM, Ala. A devastating mass shooting rocked the bustling Five Points South district of Birmingham late Saturday night, leaving four people dead and 17 others wounded. Authorities believe the attack, which occurred around 11 p.m., was a targeted “hit” aimed at one of the victims, in what police are investigating as a potential murder-for-hire incident.

The popular nightlife spot, known for its entertainment venues, restaurants, and bars, was crowded when multiple shooters opened fire outside Hush Lounge, creating a scene of chaos and fear. According to Birmingham Police Chief Scott Thurmond, several individuals stepped out of a vehicle and began firing indiscriminately into the crowd before fleeing the scene. “We believe that there was a ‘hit,’ if you will, on that particular person,” Thurmond said.

The aftermath of the attack was horrific, with bloodstains visible on the sidewalk the following morning. Police recovered approximately 100 shell casings from the scene, with evidence suggesting that some of the weapons used were “fully automatic,” according to Thurmond. Authorities also indicated the possible use of machine gun conversion devices, which allow semi-automatic weapons to fire at a much faster rate.

Three of the victims were found dead at the scene—two men and a woman—while a fourth male victim was pronounced dead at a hospital. The three victims found at the scene have been identified as Anitra Holloman, 21, of Bessemer, Tahj Booker, 27, of Birmingham, and Carlos McCain, 27, of Birmingham. The identity of the fourth victim, who died at the hospital, is still pending.

Among the 17 injured were individuals with life-threatening injuries. As of Sunday afternoon, four of the critically injured were receiving treatment at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Hospital, according to UAB spokesperson Alicia Rohan.

Eyewitness accounts paint a vivid picture of the terrifying moments when gunfire erupted. Gabriel Eslami, 24, from Trussville, described waiting in line to enter the club when gunshots suddenly rang out. “All of the sudden, gun shots everywhere… I look back and there are bodies laid out on the sidewalk with gun smoke still in the air. It looked like something from a horror movie,” Eslami recalled. He later discovered he had been shot in the leg and was treated at a hospital.

The area’s proximity to the University of Alabama at Birmingham has made it a popular destination for young adults, and the sudden violence sent shockwaves through the community. Geoffrey Boshell, a 22-year-old biomedical engineering student, recounted hearing rapid gunfire from his nearby apartment: “I heard it, looked out my window, and immediately saw people screaming, fleeing the scene. I’m not sure scared is the right word. Just very disturbed that it was happening right outside where you are living.”

At a press conference on Sunday, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin expressed his determination to bring the perpetrators to justice and address the broader issue of gun violence in the city. “The priority is to find these shooters and get them off our streets,” Woodfin said, urging for community cooperation in solving the crime.

The incident marks Birmingham’s 31st mass killing of 2024, and the third major mass shooting in the city this year. With rising concerns about gun violence across the nation, the tragedy has left residents anxious for change and a solution to what many feel is an escalating crisis.

As investigators continue to work on identifying the shooters, Chief Thurmond emphasized that solving this case is a priority for the city’s law enforcement. “We have to get to the bottom of this,” Thurmond said, adding that authorities are still working to determine whether anyone returned fire, potentially causing crossfire during the attack.

Birmingham, already grappling with a rising tide of violent crime, now faces the daunting task of recovering from one of the deadliest nights in its recent history.