On Monday, U.S. Attorney Phil Williams promised federal charges for the gunmen behind a string of shootings in Birmingham and Hoover over the past several days.
“Those who think that they can rule our streets and impact our lives with violence have another thing coming,” Williams said. “Our office has been in communication with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners regarding the recent shootings in Birmingham and Hoover over the past several days.”
“To the extent possible we will charge these crimes federally and put these thugs and shooters in federal prison,” he said. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will not abide such senseless acts of violence being perpetrated in our communities. We stand united with our law enforcement partners and remain committed to working together to address violent crime and protect our communities.”
RELATED: 1 dead, 8 injured in two shootings following Birmingham’s Magic City Classic
Williams, a former Alabama state senator from Gadsden and retired Army colonel, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in May to lead the Northern District of Alabama, the state’s largest federal district. The office covers 31 counties and roughly 59% of Alabama’s population. He reorganized the office this summer, naming a new deputy chief over its Violent Crime Section.
Saturday night, one person was killed and eight others wounded in a pair of shootings outside Legion Field as crowds from the Magic City Classic spilled onto Graymont Avenue, where vendors had set up. Nearly 70,000 fans attended the game.
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin said the lone suspect in custody is a 17-year-old who used an illegal Glock switch, a device that turns a handgun into a fully automatic weapon. Police recovered multiple firearms and are hunting for additional shooters. Two victims remained in critical condition Sunday. The victims ranged in age from 19 to 30.
Possessing or using a Glock switch is a federal machine gun crime, squarely the kind of case Williams can pull into federal court.
Friday, just before noon, gunfire erupted in the food court of the Riverchase Galleria in Hoover during a fight among several people. A 20-year-old man was shot in the arm.
Shoppers hid in stores while the mall went into lockdown for more than an hour. Video of the shooting circulated online within hours.
Hoover police charged a 19-year-old Birmingham man.
Williams singled out the local and federal agencies working the cases.
“I want to give special recognition to the men and women of the Birmingham and Hoover Police Departments, as well as our federal partners with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI),” he said. “Their response was swift and accurate, and while the investigations remain ongoing, I have no doubt about their final outcome. This community will have the satisfaction of seeing criminals brought to justice.”
Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.
