MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A man from Alabama, facing charges for the murder of four individuals in September, has now been implicated in a different quadruple homicide that occurred in July. This information comes from law enforcement representatives.
Damien McDaniel, aged 22, has been charged with capital murder regarding the mass shooting incident on July 13, which transpired outside a nightclub in Birmingham, resulting in the deaths of four people and leaving ten others injured. Officer Truman Fitzgerald shared this information at a press conference held on Tuesday evening. Additionally, McDaniel is linked to three other fatal shootings that took place over distinct days in August and September.
Charges have also been filed against another suspect, 27-year-old Hatarius Woods, in relation to the July mass shooting. Officer Fitzgerald highlighted the ongoing violence, stating, “These individuals started back in July, and they did not stop from September. We often say on these crime scenes that we have a few select criminals that add to this crime and give Birmingham a bad name.”
According to Fitzgerald, both Woods and McDaniel are believed to be responsible for approximately 30% of all homicides committed in Birmingham between July and September. As of now, attorneys representing Woods and McDaniel have not responded to requests for comment regarding the allegations.
With the new charges introduced on Tuesday, McDaniel faces accusations of having caused the deaths of 11 individuals and injuring 29 more across five distinct incidents over a span of two months. One prominent incident involved a mass shooting on September 21 outside another nightclub, where four people lost their lives, and 17 others sustained injuries.
Fitzgerald also noted that the investigation into the September incident continues, revealing that there were “multiple shooters” involved. This incident marked Birmingham’s third mass shooting of the year. Furthermore, the city exceeded its homicide record from 2022 following a recent fatal shooting, bringing the total to 145 homicides recorded in 2024.
In a poignant 30-minute video released on Tuesday evening, Mayor Randall Woodfin of Birmingham was seen sitting before a table adorned with 145 guns, symbolizing the number of homicides in the city since January. He called upon state legislators to aid in curbing the escalating gun violence affecting Birmingham.
Woodfin remarked, “Even if I give you more officers on our streets, people are still legally allowed to drive around with these types of guns.” While he expressed his support for the Second Amendment, Woodfin also mentioned the importance of allowing residents to decide on potential restrictions regarding gun permits.
He concluded with a thoughtful assertion: “If I was a betting man, I would believe the residents of Birmingham have had enough of this and want to see more gun safety laws in place that protect people in Birmingham, but that has to come from a level higher than me.”