As the search continues for the gunmen sought in the weekend mass shooting in Birmingham’s Five Points South that killed four and wounded 17 others, authorities on Monday announced reward money of up to $100,000 offered by the FBI and Crime Stoppers.
Police Chief Scott Thurmond said investigators are still working on the theory that the barrage of automatic gunfire was a “hit” — a murder-for-hire targeting at least one of the men killed in the shooting.
Two of the victims, Carlos De’Juan McCain, 27, and Roderick Lynn Patterson Jr., 26, both were charged in past Birmingham homicides.
McCain was acquitted of murder and attempted murder in 2017 in the shooting death of 15-year-old Kelvon Julius, who police said was killed in retaliation for another shooting in 2015. A young woman was also wounded in the gunfire that killed Kelvon.
Kelvon’s slaying happened June 4, 2016, on 12th Street South. A second suspect pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Patterson was previously charged with murder in the 2021 shooting of 20-year-old Dentarius Maurice Jackson, who was gunned down at the gas pumps at the Chevron on First Ave. North.
In 2022, the murder charge against Patterson was dismissed at the request of prosecutors citing “death, unavailability, and non-cooperation of witnesses.”
Court records show no criminal histories for the other two people killed – Anitra Hollomon, 21, and Tahj Booker, 27.
Thurmond said he would not yet identify who investigators believe was the targeted victim in Saturday’s mass shooting, and said police are still trying to determine whether a second victim was also targeted.
“There could be multiple motives for the one individual we believe was targeted. Others could have been targeted,’’ Thurmond said. “We’re still looking into that.”
“Some of the individuals killed have extensive criminal histories and because of that, there’s often motivation from others, and there’s people willing to pay to have them killed,’’ the chief said.
Thurmond, Mayor Randall Woodfin and other law enforcement officials held a news conference Monday to update the investigation and announce the reward.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Carlton Peeples announced the reward for information on arrest and conviction.
Frank Barefield of Crime Stoppers said its reward is for information leading to the identity of the suspects and is the largest ever offered by them.
The previous record was $25,000 after the abuduction of Kamille “Cupcake” McKinney. The 3-year-old was abducted from a birthday party in 2019 and later found murdered. Two people were arrested and convicted.
“The purpose of (the reward) is to ensure that we root out the violent and heinous individuals that seek to bring violence to our communities,’’ Peeples said.
Barefiled said Crime Stoppers had received more than 50 tips since Sunday. Within an hour of Monday’s reward announcement, more than 10 new tips had been received.
“It’s a life-changing reward,’’ Barefield said, “and you’re totally anonymous.”
“This is confirmation that members of our community have information and are ready to get these violent offenders off the street,’’ said Bob Copus executive director of Crime Stoppers.
The gunfire erupted just after 11 p.m. Saturday outside Hush hookah and cigar lounge on Magnolia Avenue.
Hollomon, McCain, and Booker were found unresponsive on the sidewalk and pronounced dead on the scene at 11:54 p.m. Patterson was taken to UAB Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11:46 p.m.
Seventeen other victims were wounded and taken to four Birmingham hospitals.
As of Monday, 12 of the surviving victims had been released from the hospital. Five remain hospitalized, including four with life-threatening injuries.
More than 100 shots from at least one fully automatic weapon were fired in the deadly shooting that sent people running in terror from the bustling entertainment district. Police say a gun with a Glock switch was among the weapons fired.
With no arrests yet made, the chief was asked if the public should be afraid.
“If you’re not in that criminal game or criminal circle, you probably don’t have anything to worry about,” he said.
“There were innocent victims we know,” he said, “but the crux of the people targeted had criminal histories and unfortunately being in that lifestyle, that culture, unfortunately ended in their demise.”
“Here’s the thing. These weren’t people just riding around targeting random people,’’ the chief said. “There’s not people riding around the city of Birmingham shooting random people just to be shooting them.”
“These were people who were targeted because of their involvement in the things they’re involved in, the things they do day to day,’’ he said.
Still, the chief noted, there were many others shot who just happened to be in the same area as those who were targeted.
Thurmond said he’s confident they will get those responsible.
“We’re going to hunt you down and we’re going to arrest you,’’ he said. “100 percent.”
Woodfin said the community must step up, just as they did in the Cupcake investigation.
“There was a collective holding our breath and community action with the kidnapping of Cupcake McKinney,’’ he said. “This requires one of those same types of moments where you have 21 community members who have been shot where four unfortunately have lost their lives.”
“We can’t give safe harbor to people who simply want to kill people. We can’t give them cover,’’ Woodfin said. “They should not feel safe in our community. They should not feel safe anywhere.”
Woodfin said he spoke with two victims who have been released from the hospital.
“This type of incident, this mass shooting, as a heavy toll on the community as a whole but nothing more is more harmful than the emotional and physical pain of these actual victims,”
One of victims was simply in line outside of Hush with his friends, celebrating his birthday.
“His mom mentioned to me that they usually go out of town for his birthday, but he decided to celebrate his birthday here,’’ Woodfin said. “I talked to another victim and her mother. The mother was as emotional as her daughter, as she should be.”
“If there ever was a time for us to come together as a community,” he said, “this is the moment.”
Woodfin spoke briefly about the unidentified shooters.
“It’s easy to see people in a line, who are most likely unarmed because to enter a club you can’t have a weapon on you,’’ he said. “As heinous as this was, it was also one of the most cowardly things we’ve seen. They’re cowards.”
“Everyone who wants to play detective on social media, everyone on the streets who is pointing the finger at the police and everyone else, this is your time to step up,’’ Woodfin said.
You can submit information to police here. You can also call investigators at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.