BPD denies gang activity in Birmingham for cause of targeted mass shootings

Saturday night's mass shooting in Five Points South and Sunday night's shooting in the Eastlake community have both been dubbed "targeted shootings" by the Birmingham Police Department (BPD). It's a term used for many of the city's shootings.

Many were left wondering if there is gang activity on the streets of Birmingham.

Public Information Officer Truman Fitzgerald said it's more complicated than that.

Here in Birmingham we have more so cliques and more so have neighborhood beefs as opposed to what many people would think of as your traditional gangs.

In the case of Saturday night's shooting, Chief Scott Thurmond said "It wasn't location it was the person. So wherever the person was is where it was gonna take place. Wherever they can catch that individual, we believe that there was a hit on that person if you will. Someone was willing to pay money to have that person killed."

At least four people are dead and 17 others were shot in the mass shooting outside of Hush, a cigar and hookah lounge in the city.

This is what a targeted shooting is: The shooter often knows the victim or in the case of Saturday night's shooting may have someone attack a certain person. Many of the gun deaths in Birmingham come from disagreements.

"These mass shootings have more to do with culture than they do with criminality. Mayor Randall Woodbin said it best this week. We're seeing way too many arguments being settled by bullets," Fitzgerald. said.

These shootings may not target bystanders or people involved in crime but often have victims that are unrelated to the disagreement or individuals that are caught in the crossfire.