Four people have been killed and at least nine others injured in a shooting at a nightclub hosting a birthday party.
A large crowd had gathered at the venue on 3400 block of 27th Street North in Birmingham, Alabama when multiple shots were fired around 11pm last night.
Police believe at least one shooter fired from outside the club, but no motive has yet been determined.
‘We’re unsure what led to the incident and whether someone was targeted’, said Deputy Chief Rodarius Mauldin, who described the scene as chaotic.
One man was declared dead at the scene after being found on a pavement near the nightclub, according to Birmingham Police.
Two women found inside the nightclub were also pronounced dead at the scene by Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service who ferried victims to UAB Hospital.
Another man was declared dead at hospital. At least nine others have been hospitalised.
‘Detectives are working to determine what led to shots being fired and the victims being shot’, said Truman Fitzgerald, an officer at Birmingham Police Department.
‘However, we can point out that we believe at least one suspect fired shots from the street into the nightclub.
‘Our federal partners have deployed to the scene and are assisting Birmingham police officers in this investigation.’
Police are appealing for witnesses, who are being offered up to $5,000 through Crimestoppers if they provide tips.
‘We know there was a lot of people that saw and heard various things’, Mauldin said.
This wasn’t the only shooting in Birmingham on Saturday, despite having a population of just 200,000.
A mother, her young son and her boyfriend were shot dead in their car in the city’s Echo Highlands Neighbourhood, a 15-minute drive away, AL.com reported.
It’s not even the only nightclub shooting in the US city this year.
Two men died after being shot at The Quest nightclub in May, CBS42 reported.
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