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Another Dangerous TikTok Trend: The Rise of Glock Switches in Gun Violence
Update: Murder-for-Hire Plot Behind the Shooting?
In a new development Sunday morning, Birmingham Police Chief Scott Thurmond revealed that authorities suspect the shooting may have been a murder-for-hire. Police believe the intended target is among the deceased victims. Chief Thurmond confirmed the weapons used were fully automatic, with more than 100 shell casings found at the scene.
“This is not the first time this year we’ve seen this type of automatic weaponry used in our streets,” Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin said. He added that authorities are still determining who the intended target was and will be reviewing video surveillance for further clues.
Mayor Woodfin echoed the community’s sense of urgency: “We owe it to the victims to do everything we can to take these shooters and killers off our streets.”
At this time, no arrests have been made. Police continue to investigate, with Birmingham residents hoping for swift justice in the wake of this horrific event.
Reported By: WBRC.com
Original Story:
Birmingham, Alabama – In the latest chapter of America’s gun violence crisis. A late-night shooting spree outside a nightclub in Birmingham. Four people died and dozens more were injured, some critically, after gunmen opened fire on a crowd in the bustling Five Points South nightlife district.
Authorities believe that the shooters used pistols modified with illegal “Glock switches,” a concerning trend that has been making waves on social media platforms like TikTok.
The Times initially reported that Birmingham police responded to a flurry of gunfire just after 11 p.m. on Saturday. Two men and a woman were found dead at the scene, while a fourth victim, a man, was pronounced dead at a local hospital. In a harrowing aftermath, dozens more victims were taken to area hospitals, several in critical condition.
A Night of Terror in Five Points South
According to Birmingham Police Officer Truman Fitzgerald, “multiple shooters fired multiple shots on a group of people,” though the exact number of shooters remains unclear.
Witnesses reported hearing rapid-fire gunshots, a tell-tale sign of weapons fitted with “Glock switches,” illegal devices that convert semi-automatic handguns into fully automatic weapons.
“We’re seeing far too many arguments being settled by bullets,” Fitzgerald lamented, as authorities continued to investigate whether the shooters fired from a car or on foot.
The once-vibrant Five Points South district—known for its restaurants, bars, and proximity to the University of Alabama—became the site of tragedy as police struggled to establish a motive for the attack. Unconfirmed claims circulating on social media suggest the violence may have stemmed from a personal argument, a pattern seen too often in recent years.
The Deadly TikTok Trend: Glock Switches Take Over Social Media
The chilling sound of automatic gunfire has become all too familiar in Birmingham, where law enforcement has noted an alarming uptick in shootings involving Glock switches.
This deadly device, often highlighted on TikTok in a dangerous display of bravado, allows users to transform a handgun into a fully automatic weapon—capable of discharging multiple rounds in a matter of seconds.
“These devices are becoming a plague on our communities,” said a spokesperson for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, following a massive federal crackdown on the importation and trafficking of Glock switches and illegal silencers. In a press release dated September 11th, the Justice Department revealed the seizure of over 700 Glock switches, 87 illegal silencers, and a trove of firearms and domains used to facilitate this growing threat.
For those unfamiliar with Glock switches, these are extremely illegal devices that modify a handgun’s firing mechanism, making it capable of automatic fire.
While some glorify this on social media, the reality is that these devices have become a “game of whack-a-mole” for federal authorities, who seized over 350 website domains used to smuggle switches and silencers from China.
No End in Sight as Federal Authorities Scramble to Keep Up
In response to the recent surge in gun violence, law enforcement agencies across the country have been calling for tougher legislation to control the sale and distribution of Glock switches.
However, as Officer Fitzgerald put it, the current laws are inadequate to address the crisis.
“There are simply too many of these devices floating around, and it’s making our streets a battlefield,” Fitzgerald said.
While investigators continue to gather security footage and interview witnesses, no arrests have been made as of yet. Police have stated that they do not believe the victims were random targets, but that they were tragically caught in the crossfire of an isolated incident.
The mass shooting in Birmingham brings the total number of such incidents in the U.S. this year to 403, according to data from the Gun Violence Archive. It’s a grim statistic, one that underscores the relentless nature of gun violence in a country increasingly grappling with the consequences of readily available and easily modified firearms.
As the investigation unfolds, Birmingham residents remain on edge, hoping for justice and some measure of safety as the shadow of gun violence looms large over their city.
Original reporting by TheTimes.com
