Five Points South business reacts to mass shooting arrest

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

Small businesses in the area are relieved.

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

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

“Letting people know that the perpetrators of this isolated incident are being locked up and that action is being taken, I’m sure that will put a lot of people’s hearts at ease,” said T-Bone co-owner, Ali Crawford.

His small business was closing up shop on Sept. 21 when shots rang out nearby.

“In a small business, that’s a family,” he said. “I wondered if my brother was OK, if my sister was OK. She’s at this level, so it was horrible.”

Even though Crawford wasn’t working the night of the shooting, he and his father were frantic, calling employees to make sure everyone was safe.

“Horrified, just thinking who’s alive,” she explained. “Who is alive? Because for the first hour we didn’t hear anything from anyone for the most part, a part from Donita.

Now that Birmingham police are making arrests for those involved, Crawford says it’s a relief: “The fact that arrests are being made is also good now that justice is actually being served. Life is too short not to love each other others”.

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

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

Police Chief Scott Thurmond said that investigation is not over. 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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