Three men were killed and another seriously injured in three separate shootings in Birmingham in less than three hours on Thursday night.

The spate of violence brought the city’s homicide toll for 2024 to 144, ties Birmingham’s deadliest year in recent memory, which was 2022.

Through 2022, the highest number in recent memory was 141 in 1991. The city ended 2023 with 135 homicides.

The all-time record for homicides in Birmingham was in 1933, with 148 murders.

The city’s population today is just under 197,000 people. In 1933, Birmingham had just under 269,000 people.

Of the homicides this year, 10 were deemed justifiable and are not considered criminal. One of the fatal shootings was an officer-involved shooting, and two others occurred in previous years, but the victims died in 2024.

“Violent criminals have shown us that they have no regard for the lives of members of our community,” said Birmingham police spokesman Officer Truman Fitzgerald.

“To echo the words of Acting Chief Michael Pickett, we need to make it uncomfortable for violent criminals in our city.”

“This starts with our community continuing to step up and provide tips, which they have done in many investigations this year,” he said, “and BPD is doing its part by acting quickly on those tips, arresting these violent criminals “.

The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office on Friday identified one of the men killed as Justin Lee Henry Grant. He was 33 years old.

The other two homicide victims remain unidentified, Deputy Coroner Bill Yates said.

Thursday’s bloodbath began at 3:51 p.m. at the Park at Wood Station apartments. That location is in the 6000 block of Wood Station Drive, which is off First Avenue South in Woodlawn.

Grant was found inside an SUV that had been riddled with gunfire. He was pronounced dead inside the vehicle at the scene at 4:11 p.m

Fitzgerald said the victim was shot, possibly by multiple shooters. At least 15 to 20 rounds were fired, if not more, he said.

Dozens of friends and family members huddled outside the crime scene box, hugging and crying.

No arrests have been announced in the disclosed targeted attack.

At 18:30, east enclosure officers responded to a shots fired call in the 4400 block of 41st Place North, which is the Inglenook community.

Officers went to the rear area of ​​an abandoned home where they found a man shot and lying unresponsive in the driveway. He was pronounced dead at 7:00 p.m.

The police found a second victim inside the house following searches in the area. He was pronounced dead at 19:10

The police on the scene found a third man who was then detained by the authorities.

Responding officers discovered a fourth man walking in the area and detained him as well, Fitzgerald said.

A stolen car was recovered at the scene.

“At this point, we’re not sure who is who — whether the victims were initially suspects; did the victims fire shots?” Fitzgerald said Thursday night. “This is a scene that will take time and time to uncover.”

While investigators were still on scene in Inglenook, West Precinct officers were dispatched at 6:45 p.m. on a Shot Spotter alert to the 300 block of 25th Street SW.

Once in that neighborhood, officers found several carcasses and an unresponsive man in the roadway.

He was rushed to the UAB Hospital where he was immediately operated on. His injuries are life-threatening.

Fitzgerald said details about the shooting are limited.

Anyone with information about either shooting is asked to call detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.