Birmingham, Alabama – In a devastating incident late Saturday night, four people, including Tahj Booker, were killed and several others injured in a mass shooting outside the Hush Hookah/Cigar Lounge on the 2000 block of Magnolia Avenue. The tragic event, which occurred around 11 p.m., has left the close-knit Five Points South community in shock and mourning.
The victims, identified as Tahj Booker, Rod Patterson, Carlos Gray, and Anitra Reyonna, were caught in the crossfire when multiple suspects arrived in a vehicle and opened fire on the crowd gathered outside the lounge. Three of the victims, two men and a woman, were found unresponsive at the scene and were pronounced dead before they could receive medical assistance. The fourth victim was transported to UAB Hospital but succumbed to their injuries shortly thereafter.
UAB Hospital reported that twelve individuals, including the deceased, were brought in for emergency treatment. Four remain hospitalized with conditions ranging from critical to stable, while the others were transferred to different hospitals in Birmingham.
The Birmingham Police Department has indicated that this tragic event was not a random act of violence. Authorities are actively investigating the incident, as they believe the suspects specifically targeted the area, indiscriminately firing into the crowd and leaving innocent bystanders caught in the chaos.
The city of Birmingham is grappling with this senseless act of violence, as the names of the deceased continue to resonate within the community. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone with information related to the shooting to come forward.
The community has come together in the wake of this tragedy, expressing their grief and calling for justice for the victims.