Alabama officials vow to boost security after mass shooting

Birmingham officials vow to boost security after mass shooting

VIOLENCE. MORE ON THAT COMING UP AT 6:00. NOW, CITY LEADERS ARE DEMANDING ACTION, THOUGH, FOLLOWING BIRMINGHAM’S THIRD QUADRUPLE HOMICIDE IN THIS YEAR. �� 13 JON PAEPCKE JOINS US NOW AND JOHN THEY ARE FEELING FRUSTRATED. I’M SURE. YES THEY ARE. IN FACT, THEY TELL ME AT CITY COUNCIL THEY SAID PUBLICLY THAT THEY’RE HEARING FROM MORE AND MORE PEOPLE THAT FEEL TOO SCARED TO GO OUT AT NIGHT. AND THERE’S ACTUALLY ONE CITY COUNCILOR WHO BASICALLY SAID THEY’RE WILLING TO ALMOST GIVE THE MAYOR A BLANK CHECK TO BOOST SECURITY CITYWIDE AND SEND A STRONG MESSAGE TO THOSE BEHIND THE VIOLENCE. THIS IS OUR COMMUNITY. THIS IS MY CITY, OUR CITY. YOU SHOULDN’T FEEL THAT SAFE TO COMMIT CRIME. EMOTIONS ARE STILL HIGH FOLLOWING SATURDAY’S FIVE POINT SOUTH MASS SHOOTING, LEAVING FOUR DEAD AND ANOTHER 17 INJURED. DURING HIS WEEKLY CITY COUNCIL UPDATE, MAYOR RANDALL WOODFIN PLEDGED A BIGGER POLICE PRESENCE IN BIRMINGHAM’S ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICTS AND CONTINUED TO PLEAD FOR THE PUBLIC’S HELP TO HUNT DOWN THOSE BEHIND THE VIOLENCE. 72 HOURS LATER, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS WHERE WE DON’T HAVE THE LUXURY TO POINT FINGERS, BUT AT THE KILLERS AND SHOOTERS. WHEN HE WAS FINISHED, CITY COUNCILOR CRYSTAL SMITHERMAN DECIDED TO OPEN UP ABOUT THE SHOOTINGS IMPACT IN HER COMMUNITY. THESE PEOPLE ARE SCARED. PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT ONLY WANT TO GO TO WORK, AND I WANT TO GO TO CHURCH IN THE GROCERY STORE, AND THAT’S IT. AND WE HAVE TO MAKE IT SO PEOPLE FEEL SAFE AGAIN. A BIRMINGHAM NATIVE AND DAUGHTER OF A LOCAL LAWMAKER AND FORMER CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT, SMITHERMAN IS VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE CITY’S VIOLENT PAST. BUT THIS YEAR’S RECORD SETTING MURDER STREAK IS STRIKING A NERVE. MAYOR WOODFIN ALREADY TOLD YOU THIS. PRIVATELY PUT, THE HAMMER DOWN. I DON’T CARE ANYMORE. DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE THINK WE’RE PLAYING. SMITHERMAN IS READY TO GIVE THE MAYOR WHATEVER FUNDING HE NEEDS TO TAKE. BIRMINGHAM’S PUBLIC SAFETY RESPONSE TO THE NEXT LEVEL, BECAUSE SHE SAYS, IT IS TIME TO MAKE EVERY COMMUNITY SAFER. AND THOSE TERRORIZING THEM EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE. I’M SICK OF IT. I AM REALLY SICK OF IT. I’M SICK OF FEELING UNSAFE IN MY OWN CITY. NOW REMEMBER, THERE’S A $100,000 WORTH OF REWARDS BETWEEN THE FBI AND CRIME STOPPERS FOR THE PERSON OUT THERE THAT HOLDS THE KEY TO CRACKING THIS CASE. AND MAYOR WOODFIN SAID, IF YOU’RE A FRIEND OR A RELATIVE OF ONE OF THESE SHOOTERS REFUSING TO STEP UP, YOU’RE JUST AS RESP

Birmingham officials vow to boost security after mass shooting

LIVE UPDATES | WHAT WE KNOW | THE VICTIMS | THE SCENE | FLOWERS | HUSH LOUNGE STATEMENTBirmingham officials are promising enhanced security measures after a mass shooting in the Five Points South area left four dead and 17 injured."This is our community. This is my city. Our city. You should not feel that safe to commit crime," Birmingham City Councilor Crystal Smitherman said.Emotions remain high following the tragic event on Saturday night.>>LIVE UPDATES: What we know about the shooting at Five Points SouthDuring his weekly city council update, Mayor Randall Woodfin committed to increasing police presence in Birmingham's entertainment districts and urged the public to help identify those responsible for the violence."Seventy-two hours later, this is one of those moments where we don't have the luxury to point fingers, but at the killers and shooters," Mayor Woodfin said.City Councilor Crystal Smitherman shared the impact of the shooting on her community."These people are scared. People talking about they only want to go to work. I want to go to church and that's it. And we have to make it where people feel safe again," Smitherman said.Smitherman, a Birmingham native and daughter of a local lawmaker and former city council president, is deeply familiar with the city's violent history.However, this year's record-setting murder streak has struck a nerve."Mayor Woodfin, I already told you this, put the hammer down. I don't care anymore. I don't care anymore. Do what you've got to do, because these people think we're playing," Smitherman said.Smitherman is prepared to provide Mayor Woodfin with whatever funding is necessary to enhance Birmingham's public safety response, emphasizing the need to make every community safer and to make those causing terror feel extremely uncomfortable."I am sick of it. I'm sick of it. I am really sick of it. I am sick of not feeling safe in my own city," Smitherman said.A $100,000 reward is being offered by Crime Stoppers and the FBI for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for the shooting.Mayor Woodfin stressed the importance of community cooperation, stating that anyone who knows the shooters and refuses to come forward is just as responsible as the suspects themselves.Anyone with information is asked to submit evidence to the Birmingham Police Department's evidence submission portal. You can also call Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777. Tips can be sent to the FBI by calling 1-800-225-5324 or here.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. —

Birmingham officials are promising enhanced security measures after a mass shooting in the Five Points South area left four dead and 17 injured.

"This is our community. This is my city. Our city. You should not feel that safe to commit crime," Birmingham City Councilor Crystal Smitherman said.

Emotions remain high following the tragic event on Saturday night.

>>LIVE UPDATES: What we know about the shooting at Five Points South

During his weekly city council update, Mayor Randall Woodfin committed to increasing police presence in Birmingham's entertainment districts and urged the public to help identify those responsible for the violence.

"Seventy-two hours later, this is one of those moments where we don't have the luxury to point fingers, but at the killers and shooters," Mayor Woodfin said.

City Councilor Crystal Smitherman shared the impact of the shooting on her community.

"These people are scared. People talking about they only want to go to work. I want to go to church and that's it. And we have to make it where people feel safe again," Smitherman said.

Smitherman, a Birmingham native and daughter of a local lawmaker and former city council president, is deeply familiar with the city's violent history.

However, this year's record-setting murder streak has struck a nerve.

"Mayor Woodfin, I already told you this, put the hammer down. I don't care anymore. I don't care anymore. Do what you've got to do, because these people think we're playing," Smitherman said.

Smitherman is prepared to provide Mayor Woodfin with whatever funding is necessary to enhance Birmingham's public safety response, emphasizing the need to make every community safer and to make those causing terror feel extremely uncomfortable.

"I am sick of it. I'm sick of it. I am really sick of it. I am sick of not feeling safe in my own city," Smitherman said.

A $100,000 reward is being offered by Crime Stoppers and the FBI for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for the shooting.

Mayor Woodfin stressed the importance of community cooperation, stating that anyone who knows the shooters and refuses to come forward is just as responsible as the suspects themselves.

Anyone with information is asked to submit evidence to the Birmingham Police Department's. You can also call Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777. Tips can be sent to the FBI by calling 1-800-225-5324 or .

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Birmingham officials vow to boost security after mass shooting

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