Damien McDaniel, 22, was arrested and charged with capital
murder in connection with the Sept. 21 shooting in the Five
Points South entertainment district, said Birmingham Police
Chief Scott Thurmond. McDaniel is also charged with 17 counts of
attempted murder for those who were wounded, the police chief
said. Available court records did not show if McDaniel has an
attorney who could speak on his behalf.
“Today was a major step toward justice,” Birmingham Mayor
Randall Woodfin said in a statement.
Asked at a news conference if additional arrests were expected,
Thurmond said he could only say that the investigation is
ongoing. Police previously said that multiple shooters opened
fire on a crowd waiting in line outside a nightspot.
Investigators are still looking into the possibility that
someone was targeting one of the victims, the police chief said.
He declined to discuss a possible motive.
McDaniel is also charged in connection with two other fatal
shootings that took place in the city over a three-day period in
September. Three other people were also charged in one of those
shootings.
“This is just one step in moving forward. There is a lot more to
come in these investigations as we prepare for court," Thurmond
said.
The Sept. 21 shooting in the bustling Five Points South district
unnerved the neighborhood and put a national spotlight on the
city.
Anitra Holloman, 21, of the Birmingham suburb of Bessemer; Tahj
Booker, 27, of Birmingham; Carlos McCain, 27, of Birmingham; and
Roderick Lynn Patterson Jr., 26, of Birmingham were killed in
the shooting.
All contents © copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights
reserved |
|