Five Points South store responds to mass shooting arrest

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – Birmingham Police arrested a man in connection with the mass shooting in Five Points South last month.

Small businesses in the region are feeling relief.

T-Bone’s Authentic Philly Style Cheesesteaks and Hoagies is located on 20th Street, right around the corner from where the shooting occurred.

Even a month later, the co-owner said he is still seeing more online orders than in-person business. He is also happy to hear that justice is being served.

“The fact that people know that the perpetrators of this isolated incident will be locked up and action will be taken will certainly reassure a lot of people,” said Ali Crawford, co-owner of T-Bone.

His small business was closing up shop on September 21 when shots were fired nearby.

“In a small business, it’s a family,” he said. “I wondered if my brother was okay, if my sister was okay. It’s at that level, so it was terrible.”

Although Crawford wasn’t working the night of the shooting, he and his father were in a panic and called employees to make sure everyone was safe.

“Just the thought of who is still alive is horrifying,” he explained. “Who is alive? Because for the first hour, for the most part, we didn’t hear from anyone, just a bit from Donita.”

Now that Birmingham police have arrested those involved, Crawford is relieved: “The fact that arrests are being made is also good because now justice is actually being served. “Life is too short not to love each other.”

He has a message for those involved in all the gun violence.

“As advanced as we are as humans, we cannot be reduced to barbaric activities like killing each other,” Crawford said. “There are so many ways to make a name for yourself other than getting into the headlines for killing someone. Be a politician so you can change the laws you don’t like. Be a musician so you can express yourself in ways other than spilling blood on the floor. How about some red paint instead?”

Police Chief Scott Thurmond said this investigation is ongoing. If you have more information about last month’s mass shooting, you can still share your tips with BPD and Crime Stoppers.

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