Seven people, including a five-year-old boy, were killed and ten others injured in two separate shootings in Birmingham, Alabama, over the weekend. The deadliest incident occurred on Saturday night when a drive-by shooting at a nightclub left four dead and at least ten wounded.
The deceased in the nightclub shooting were identified as Angela Weatherspoon, 56, Markeisha Gettings, 42, Stevie McGhee, 39, and Lerandus Anderson, 24. Police believe the attack stemmed from an altercation inside the club, where a birthday party was being held. At around 11:00pm, at least one suspect fired a gun from the street into the venue. McGhee was found outside on the sidewalk, while Gettings and Weatherspoon were inside. Anderson was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Earlier on Saturday, police discovered a wrecked car in the Echo Highlands area containing three individuals with gunshot wounds. They were pronounced dead at the scene and identified as Eric Ashley Jr, 28, Arkia Berry, 28, and her five-year-old son Landon Brooks.
Birmingham Police Chief Scott Thurmond described the day as the most tragic in his nearly 26 years with the department. He stated that both incidents were targeted and not random, urging the public to come forward with information. 'We know 100% there are people who know who is responsible,' he said. No arrests have been made.
The nightclub shooting marks the 294th mass shooting in the US this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which defines a mass shooting as one with at least four victims shot, excluding the shooter. Ten injured individuals remain in hospital, with conditions ranging from stable to critical.
