Police believe Birmingham mass shooting was ‘paid, targeted’ attack as massive manhunt underway

The shooters may have used ‘switches,’ which enable a firearm to function as a machine gun, police said

Four people are dead and at least 17 others are injured following a mass shooting in Birmingham, Alabama late Saturday night.

The shooting happened in the Five Points South neighborhood, home to the University of Alabama campus and a number of bars and restaurants. Two men and one woman were found unresponsive on the sidewalk and died at the scene, the Birmingham Police Department said.

The fourth victim, an adult man, later died at a local hospital.

Police say the shooters drove to the area, exited their car and fired multiple shots at a group of people before fleeing the scene. Investigators believe the shooters were paid to kill a targeted individual, who is among the four dead, according to Birmingham Police Chief Scott Thurmond.

“Someone was willing to pay money to have that person killed,” Thurmond said.

Police on the scene of a mass shooting in Birmingham, Alabama on Saturday night. Investigators believe the gunmen were paid to kill an individual target (WVTM 13 News)

Investigators believe it’s possible the shooters used devices called “switches,” which override a firearm’s trigger, allowing it to function as a machine gun.

Dozens of people were injured, including four people with life-threatening wounds. Everyone injured was standing on a sidewalk or in the street, police said. One of the four people who died has been identified as Hannah Echols, a local hospital spokesperson told CNN.

Drops of blood on the sidewalk in the Five Points South neighborhood following Saturday’s shooting. Police say the gunmen may have used ‘switches’ to allow their firearms to function as machine guns (AP)

It’s still unclear how many shooters there were and what motivated the violence. Anyone who witnessed the shooting should contact the police, Birmingham Police Officer Truman Fitzgerald said. There is a $5,000 reward for any tip that leads to an arrest.

“There is no greater resource than he public,” Fitzgerald said.

“If you were out here, if you saw anything if you heard anything, please reach out.”

The shooting occurred in the Five Points South neighborhood, home to several restaurants and bars, as well as the University of Alabama campus (WVTM 13 News)

Witness Dajon Singleton told local outlet WVTM-13 the scene was “very scary.”

“I walked up when it was just ending, because everybody was screaming, there was people crying,” Singleton said.

“The grieving type screaming, like I know someone is hurt, or that passed away,” he added. “That type. That’s when I instantly knew someone lost a lost one.”

Police have asked local businesses for their security footage. The FBI and ATF are both assisting with the investigation.

“Rest assured, we are going to do everything we possibly can to make sure that we uncover, identify and hunt down who was ever responsible for preying on our people,” Fitzgerald said.

There have been more than 400 mass shootings in the US this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

“These mass shootings have more to do with culture than they do with criminality,” Fitzgerald said. “We are seeing far too many arguments being decided by bullets.”

The Independent has contacted the Birmingham Police Department for further information.