Two Dead, Five Injured After Gunfire Rips Through Gathering in West Birmingham Neighborhood

June 5, 2026 - BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - A mass shooting in Birmingham's western Sandusky neighborhood left two people dead and five others injured after a barrage of bullets disrupted an evening community gathering.

The incident took place shortly after 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 4, 2026. West Precinct officers responded to multiple 911 calls reporting gunfire in the 100 block of Holley Avenue.

Upon arriving at the scene, law enforcement found seven adult victims suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Emergency personnel with Birmingham Fire and Rescue quickly transported all seven individuals to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Hospital.

Casualties and Victim Identification

An adult male, identified by the Jefferson County Coroner's Office as 50-year-old Duane Montez Watts, succumbed to his injuries shortly after arriving at the hospital. On Friday morning, the Birmingham Police Department (BPD) confirmed a second victim, 33-year-old Diandra Young Johnson, had also passed away.

The remaining five victims are continuing to receive medical treatment. Authorities have confirmed that none of the individuals wounded in the shooting are juveniles.

Investigation and Shell Casings

Preliminary evidence indicates that the victims were attending a gathering outside a residence when the shooting erupted. BPD Officer De'Rell Freeman noted that while the exact number of suspects remains unknown, investigators found a "plethora of gunshots" at the location, with more than 30 shell casings littering the ground.

A police helicopter assisted tactical units in a perimeter search overnight. While no formal arrests have been made, police have transported a large group of people to headquarters for witness questioning."We won't sleep until we find out who has done this, who has caused this tragedy in this community," Officer Freeman stated during an early briefing.

Anyone with information regarding the shooting is urged to contact Birmingham Police detectives at 205-254-1764 or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.