Bessemer Triple Shooting.jpg

Three people were wounded Tuesday, May 10, 2016, when shooting erupted in the the 800 block of Fifth Avenue North in Bessemer.

(Ivana Hrynkiw | ihrynkiw@al.com)

One man remains in critical condition after he and two others were wounded in what lawmen described as a drug or gun-sale fueled shooting in Bessemer earlier today.

One of the victims has already been released from the hospital. The third remains in stable condition.

Bessemer police Sgt. Cortice Miles said the victims are all white males. Two of them are in their 40s, the third in his 30s. They have not positively identified any of the victims.

The shooting is the latest in Bessemer that has left seven people injured and one dead in just nine days. "Unfortunately, some people place a low value on the life of a human being,'' Miles said. "I was taught that every life is precious and that we must respect it. We will aggressively pursue the evil of society that believe in such a low value and bring them to justice".

Today's gunfire erupted about 4 a.m. in the 800 block of Fifth Avenue North. Bessemer police were dispatched to a report of shots fired but, while en route, police learned that there were injuries, said Bessemer police Sgt. Cortice Miles.

Once they arrived on the scene, they found the victims outside of their vehicles, all suffering from gunshot wounds. Each of the victims was shot at least once, and at least one more than once, in the upper body. All were taken to UAB Hospital.

Officers found a Chevrolet SUV and a motorcycle on the scene that were possibly involved in the shooting. Miles said witnesses told them they heard people talking and multiple gunshots.

Authorities said that multiple suspects may be involved in the shooting, and they are investigating a possible suspect vehicle that fled the scene prior to the arrival of police as well. Miles said the preliminary investigation indicates the shooting stemmed from gun or drug activity.

Today's shooting is the city's second triple shooting in just over a week. On Saturday, April 30, a 39-year-old man was shot to death and two others injured at a cookout in the 1800 block of 15thStreet North. Officers arrived on that scene and found Robert King Williams dead, and a man and woman injured.

Two days later, on Monday, May 2, a man was critically injured when he was shot about 12:06 a.m. in the 3200 block of Sixth Avenue North. That victim, whose name hasn't been released, was found sitting in a car and he was suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper body. Miles said officers found several bullet holes in the car, and a large amount of blood inside. One or more suspects fired into the vehicle.

Later in the morning, about 10:14 a.m., a man told police he was shot twice in the leg in the 1800 block of 15th Street North. Officers went to the scene and found a car in the driveway with bullet holes and blood both outside and inside. Just 10 minutes prior to that, officers responded to reports of gunfire in the 500 block of Fifth Avenue West. No one was injured but police towed two cars from the scene.

Authorities said they don't believe today's shooting is linked to any of last week's shootings.

"The month of May has been extremely upsetting as it relates to gunfire,'' said Bessemer police Chief Nathaniel Rutledge. "Some of the recent shootings over the last 10 days has appeared to be the result of conflict and disagreement among residents."

"The temperature is rising and people must find appropriate and acceptable ways to resolve issues,'' Rutledge said. "The most recent incident appears to be uncharacteristic for this neighborhood and may have simply been a transaction location. Police patrol has been increased and we request that citizens be more vigilant in contacting us when "anything" doesn't look right.

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call Bessemer police at 205-425-2411 or the Tip Line at 205-428-3541.