9/4/2021- 9:26 p.m.
Alabama -Gunfire erupted Saturday afternoon at a busy east Birmingham shopping center, leaving two people injured and two people dead inside one of the stores.
The shooting happened at 4:05 p.m. at Roebuck Plaza off Parkway East, which has been the scene of several shootings. When the shooting stopped, two males were dead inside the store Superior For Men.
Birmingham police spokesman Officer Truman Fitzgerald said the incident began with an argument inside the men’s clothing store. Afterward, the two homicide victims were pronounced dead on the scene and two other victims were taken to UAB Hospital. The severity of their injuries wasn’t immediately known.
Fitzgerald said four suspects fled in a vehicle. An officer was on the scene quickly and was able to get a description of the suspect vehicle. A lookout bulletin was issued and the vehicle was spotted almost immediately.
Officers tried to stop the vehicle, but the driver continued on. A pursuit was launched and lasted several miles before the suspects wrecked near Tarrant Huffman Road. Three suspects were taken into custody, but one fled on foot.
A large perimeter is set up near Linthicum Street in Tarrant. Police are asking residents to shelter in place.
The suspect is described as a Black male wearing a white shirt with a black emblem, black pants and black shoes.
Birmingham and Tarrant police are scouring the area.
The shopping center also was the scene of shootings earlier this year and in 2020. Lazonathan Rhodes, 25, was killed and another person was wounded on March 19 after a fight broke out in a store and spilled over to Roebuck Plaza’s parking lot where shots were fired.
In the May 20, 2020 incident, one person was shot but survived. A second person was injured by shattered glass.
“Unfortunately we have had multiple incidents at this shopping center,’’ Fitzgerald said. “Our officers are going to remain vigilant to take those that are responsible for preying on people at our shopping centers into custody. We’re thankful we had officers in the nearby area to take the individuals into custody fairly quickly.”
