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topicnews · September 27, 2024

Birmingham police chief: Mass shooting investigation “going in a good direction” as hundreds of tips have been received

Birmingham police chief: Mass shooting investigation “going in a good direction” as hundreds of tips have been received

Hundreds of tips have been received by Birmingham police about the mass shooting in Birmingham’s Five Points South neighborhood, but the chief said investigators still need more information.

Homicide investigators are reviewing photos and videos sent through a QR code set up to gather information about Saturday’s shooting that left four people dead and 17 injured.

Chief Scott Thurmond encouraged the public to move forward Friday afternoon.

“We have to work through these (tips),” Thurmond said. “Some are better than others, and then we have to put them all together.”

“Maybe you get some things from one and some things from another, and then we put that together to see how it helps,” Thurmond said. “Everything helps.”

Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama had received 101 tips as of Friday morning. Thurmond said many more were also sent directly to police.

The chief said investigators meet daily to discuss developments and strategize.

“I’m very happy with the direction it’s going,” he said.

“It just takes a while, unfortunately,” Thurmond said. “I wish we had people in prison already, but we don’t. However, we are moving in a great direction.”

Police Chief Scott Thurmond said investigators were still working on the theory that the barrage of automatic fire was a “hit” – a contract killing against at least one of the men killed in the shootout.

Authorities said they had identified the type of weapons used but had not released that information publicly.

Saturday marked a week since the unknown gunmen fired more than 100 bullets into a crowd gathered near Hush, a hookah bar and a cigar on Magnolia Avenue.

Roderick Lynn Patterson Jr., 26, Anitra Holloman, 21, Tahj Booker, 27, and Carlos McCain, 27, were killed in the shooting.

Thurmond said he could not yet identify who investigators believe was the victim of Saturday’s mass shooting and said police were still trying to determine whether a second victim was also targeted.

Authorities are still working on the theory that the automatic gunfire was a “hit” – a contract killing aimed at at least one of the men killed in the shootout.

The FBI and ATF are working with Birmingham police in the investigation. A $100,000 reward remains in place.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.

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