Revelers throughout Jefferson County once again failed to heed warnings from police to not fire guns to ring in the new year.
The result was two people injured by celebratory gunfire in Birmingham as 2024 began, and hours of city streets sounding like a war zone.
“That sounds just like when I was in Fallujah, Iraq,’’ one person wrote in response to a video posted on social media. “Sounds like a straight up fire fight. "
As they do each year, Birmingham police officers hunkered down New Year’s Eve as the clocked ticked toward to midnight.
“We’re going to have radio silence from 23:45 (11:45 p.m.) until 00:30 (12:30 a.m.) but we will respond to all Priority 1 and 2 calls,’’ a Birmingham dispatcher said on the police radio Sunday night. “Let us know where you are with a roll call once you arrive.”
Officers take shelter during that time under city viaducts or other covering to steer clear of falling bullets.
Birmingham police reported two people were injured in celebratory gunfire.
About midnight, South Precinct officers responded to a call of a person shot.
When officers arrived at UAB Hospital, they observed an adult male who had been grazed by celebratory gunfire, said Sgt. LaQuitta Wade.
The preliminary investigation suggests the victim was standing outside in the 1100 Block of Dogwood Lane as celebratory gunfire was taking place.
He was taken to UAB Hospital by private vehicle.
The second shooting happened about 3:35 a.m. Monday. No additional details were available, but Wade said neither victim sustained life-threatening injuries.
The city has not yet released the number of Shot Spotter calls for New Year’s Eve into New Year’s Day, but in years past have responded to more than 1,200 Shot Spotter calls on New Year’s Eve.
Bessemer police reported 56 shots-fired calls Sunday night into Monday morning, and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office reported 14. No injuries were reported by either of those agencies.
Birmingham Police Chief Scott Thurmond and Sheriff Mark Pettway released a public service announcement prior to the holiday weekend.
“Celebratory gunfire is never acceptable,’’ Thurmond said in the announcement.
“The bullets fired cannot be controlled, and they are incredibly reckless,’’ Pettway said. “They not only damage property but they also endanger innocent lives.”
Thurmond said the behavior is not only dangerous, but against the law.
Birmingham City Council members Hunter Williams and Valerie Abbott on Tuesday both expressed concern about celebratory gunfire on New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day and even continuing into Jan. 2.
“It is illegal and dangerous,” Williams said. “Please stop.”
“It’s very disappointing,’’ Williams said, “when we have adults make such poor decisions for whatever enjoyment they would get out of firing a weapon in the air that they would jeopardize the lives of their neighbors and devalue the community in which they live.’’
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January 03, 2024 at 03:45AM
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Celebratory New Year’s gunfire injures 2 as rapid fire makes Birmingham sound like a warzone - AL.com
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