BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Two women were fatally shot outside UAB Hospital early Monday as they arrived to be treated for gunshot wounds sustained in another shooting.
The string of shootings began around 2:37 a.m. when four women and one man were shot following an altercation at Aria Lounge and Restaurant on Fifth Avenue North, reports AL.com. According to authorities, a Chevrolet Tahoe transporting two of the females and the male arrived at the hospital emergency department for treatment when another vehicle pulled up and at least two suspects opened fire.
The two female victims, 24-year-old Markiezia Atkins and 33-year-old Chaveda Willis, died at the hospital, according to the Jefferson County coroner. The male victim is being treated for life-threatening injuries. The gunfire also hit a UAB police vehicle and an emergency department window but no one else was hurt.
“Next thing I know I saw a dark blue car pull up behind it,” one witness said. “Before they could get out, the guys in the blue car jumped out with long rifles and just sprayed the Tahoe up. Totally shot it up. Hit the police car. They just did it blatantly, they weren’t trying to hide.”
Officers shut down the area surrounding the ER and the hospital was placed on lockdown.
While officers responded to the shooting, they learned two additional female gunshot victims from the restaurant shooting arrived by private vehicles. Those women sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Birmingham Police Chief Scott Thurmond said the gunfire was a targeted attack but that “early indications are those who were shot were most likely innocent victims.”
“As a result, we have two women whose lives were cut entirely too short. Two families were destroyed, and three other victims will have to live with the scars of this senseless violence for the rest of their lives,” Thurmond said in a statement. “The vast majority of our citizens want a safer, better Birmingham, yet we continue to have a small group who can only resolve conflict by gunfire. Our city and its leadership will continue to work hard every day to hold those accountable for senseless acts of violence such as this morning’s incident. Put the guns down, they don’t solve problems, they only create bigger problems, and destroy families and our city.”
No arrests had been made as of Monday morning. Anyone with information pertaining to the case is asked to contact the BPD Homicide Unit at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
