February 19th 2024.
The city of Birmingham was left reeling after a tragic drive-by shooting claimed the lives of four men. It was a devastating event that left the community searching for answers, as violence continues to escalate throughout the city. According to AL News, the incident occurred on Feb. 16 when 32-year-old Cortez Ray, 36-year-old Talton Tait, 38-year-old Terrell Edwards, and 38-year-old Kevin McGhee were standing outside of a neighborhood car wash in Smithfield. The sound of gunshots suddenly filled the air, and chaos ensued.
Jimone Griffin, the mother of one of the victims, recalled the harrowing moment when she heard the shots and instinctively ran for safety. When she turned around, she saw that the shooting was still ongoing. She had just finished having lunch with her son, Talton, and little did she know it would be their last meal together. "I was just pacing. I didn't want to come back over here because I knew," she shared with a heavy heart.
Tragically, Talton, Ray, and Edwards were pronounced dead at the scene, while McGhee passed away shortly after at UAB Hospital. These men had been childhood friends and, according to investigators, they were targeted in this horrific attack. This incident was just one of seven shooting homicides that occurred in Birmingham within a 24-hour period, as reported by USA Today.
Mayor Randall Woodfin took to Facebook to address the alarming surge of violence in the city. In a heartfelt statement, he wrote, "This has been a heartbreaking afternoon for our city. A half dozen families are in mourning. That includes the family of one of our city employees. That also includes my own family." It was a personal tragedy for Woodfin as his own cousin was found dead in a separate double-homicide shooting that same Friday. The victims were identified as 20-year-old Christan Norris and his girlfriend, Angeliyah Webster. Their bodies were discovered in the Wylam area, according to WVTM 13.
Woodfin shared the pain that he and his family were feeling, and he also expressed concern for the other families who were also facing unimaginable loss. He urged anyone with information about the murders to come forward and contact CrimeStoppers. "The pain never gets easier. This level of loss is distressing, unacceptable, and cannot – must not – be tolerated. But right now, I'm not thinking about myself. I'm thinking about that employee's family, who now has an empty chair at the dinner table. I'm thinking about my cousin's mother. I'm thinking about the other four families who are facing the unimaginable right now," he stated.
Birmingham Police Department Chief Scott Thurmond also released a statement, expressing the city's shock and devastation over the recent events. He shared, "Our city has been rocked to its core by today's events. Our city and communities are hurting beyond belief. Our citizens and the City of Birmingham deserve better." Thurmond promised that the Birmingham Police Department would work tirelessly to solve these murders and bring justice to the victims and their families.
In a time of celebration for the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl victory, the city of Birmingham was instead faced with tragedy and heartache. One person was killed, and 22 others were injured in a shooting at the celebration. It was a stark reminder of the senseless violence that has become all too common and left the community mourning once again.
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