Roderick Lynn Patterson Jr., a 26-year-old male, tragically lost his life on the night of September 21, 2024, a victim of a mass shooting in Birmingham, Alabama's Five Points South entertainment district. The incident unfolded just after 11 p.m. outside the Hush, a hookah and cigar lounge on Magnolia Avenue, where a crowd was gathered. Patterson was one of four fatalities in the violent attack that also left 17 others wounded.
The shooting was a chaotic and brutal scene.
Multiple assailants reportedly pulled up in a vehicle, exited, and opened fire on the crowd before fleeing. Investigators recovered over 100 shell casings from the area, indicating the intensity of the gunfire. Police believe the shooting was a targeted attack, possibly a murder-for-hire, and that one of the deceased was the intended victim. While authorities have not specified which victim was the primary target, they have suggested that some of the victims had criminal histories, but that many of those shot were considered 'collateral damage'. The other victims who lost their lives were identified as 21-year-old Anitra Reyonna Holloman, 27-year-old Tahj Da’Jour Booker, and 27-year-old Carlos De'Juan McCain.
The investigation into the mass shooting led to several arrests. In October 2024, authorities announced the arrest of 22-year-old Damien Laron McDaniel III. He was charged with capital murder in connection with the four deaths and 17 counts of attempted murder for those who were injured. McDaniel's alleged involvement extended beyond this single incident, as he was also implicated in a string of other violent crimes in the Birmingham area, including other homicides.
Further arrests were made in March 2025. The Birmingham Police Department announced that 22-year-old Na'Quan Lollar and 23-year-old Crishawn Ja'mel McLemore-Bruce were also taken into custody. Like McDaniel, they face charges of capital murder and 17 counts of first-degree assault. A fourth suspect, Hatarius Woods, has also been charged in connection to the shooting. All suspects are being held in the Jefferson County Jail without bond. Police have indicated that the investigation remains ongoing and that more arrests are possible.
