Gunfire erupted outside UAB Hospital early Monday as multiple gunshot victims arrived in a private vehicle seeking help.
According to authorities and witnesses, a champagne-colored Chevrolet Tahoe pulled up to the hospital entrance seeking help for gunshot victims inside. That shooting is believed to have taken place following an altercation at Aria Restaurant and Lounge on in the 900 block of Fifth Avenue North.
When the SUV got to UAB – about 2:17 a.m. – another vehicle pulled up and opened fire on the Tahoe. Witnesses said they heard multiple shots fired, describing the sounds as “iron pipes hitting.”
The gunfire hit a UAB police vehicle and a hospital window.
Birmingham and UAB police officers shut down the area surrounding the emergency room. The hospital was placed on lockdown.
UAB officials referred all additional questions to Birmingham police.
Birmingham police Officer Truman Fitzgerald at least five people were shot in the initial incident on Fifth Avenue North.
Two of those victims – both females – were pronounced dead at the hospital.
According the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office, a 33-year-old woman was pronounced dead at 2:30 a.m. and 24-year-old woman was pronounced dead at 2:55 a.m.
Fitzgerald said the two women – who later died – and an injured man were in the SUV that showed up at UAB. The man’s injuries are life-threatening.
Two other women showed up at the hospital by private vehicle, also with gunshot wounds. Their injuries are not life-threatening.
Police said at least two suspects fired on the victims when they arrived at the hospital. They have not been arrested.
“We believe this incident was a targeted attack, however we do believe many of the victims were innocent bystanders,’’ Fitzgerald said.
Dozens of friends and family members were outside of the emergency room. They, too, said they’d been unable to get information about what happened.
About 5:30 a.m., family members of one of the victims – a female – became visibly distraught when they were told their loved one had died.
The two slain females are Birmingham’s 90th and 91st homicide victims this year. In all of Jefferson County, there have been 127 homicides including the 91 in Birmingham.
Anyone with information is asked to call homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
