Birmingham 5 Points South shooting that killed 4 may have been murder-for-hire; more than 100 shots fired

The Five Points South mass shooting that left four people dead and 18 others injured Saturday night might have been a murder-for-hire, Birmingham's police chief said at a Sunday morning press conference.

Officer Truman Fitzgerald has said the shooting happened just after 11 p.m. in the 2000 block of Magnolia Avenue South . More than 100 shell casings were recovered at the scene.

Two men and a woman were pronounced dead on the scene. A fourth victim died at UAB Hospital.

Police have said no suspects are yet in custody and the ATF and FBI have been tapped to help in the investigation.

Police Chief Scott Thurmond said their hearts go out to the families of the dead and the many injured.

"That's 21 people whose lives were forever changed," Thurmond said.

Thurmond said police have received information the shooting might have been a contract murder-for-hire. "Wherever that (targeted) person was is where it was going to take place," Thurmond said.

Multiple shooters pulled up in a car, Thurmond said, got out and fired shots and then drove away.

Mayor Randall Woodfin said the public needs to provide information to police and the state and nation needs to address what he described as lax gun laws.

"This is a solvable problem," Woodfin said. "Gun violence is an epidemic crisis in our country ... It requires everyone to come together."

"I want to work with the state to solve the problem," Woodfin said. "I'm not here to point fingers."

See also: A look at other mass homicides in Alabama

Initial reports indicate club patrons were waiting in line outside Hush, a hookah and cigar lounge on Magnolia Avenue, when the shooting took place. Witnesses said at least some of the gunfire sounded like it came from a weapon outfitted with a "switch" that converts a gun to full automatic .

Firefighters took eight of the wounded from the scene. The other victims began showing up at hospitals through Birmingham.

"We have dozens of gunshot victims from this area,'' Fitzgerald said. "I'm told at least four of those gunshot victims are life-threatening."

Investigators believe multiple shooters fired numerous shots into the group of people on Magnolia Avenue.

You can submit information to police here. You can also call investigators at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.

This is a developing story and will be updated.