An investigation is underway after a 17-year-old boy was shot to death in east Birmingham.

The shooting happened about 4:19 p.m. Saturday at Magnolia Court apartments. East Precinct officers responded to #3 Westchester Court.

They arrived to find the teen who had sustained critical injuries on the ground outside of a vehicle. He was rushed to a nearby hospital with plans to transfer him to UAB Hospital or Children’s of Alabama but he died before that transfer could happen, said Officer Truman Fitzgerald.

“Sadly, he did not make it,’’ Fitzgerald said.

It appears the teen, whose name has not yet been released, was in the vehicle when the unknown shooter walked up to the vehicle and began firing. Fitzgerald said it appeared the victim was targeted.

He is the third teen fatally shot in Birmingham in six days. Two Birmingham City Schools students were killed over spring break.

Caleb Witt, 17, was slain on Sunday and Jada White, 16, died Wednesday. Both were among nine homicides in the city in nine days.

Fitzgerald said Saturday’s victim is believed to be a student, but not in Birmingham City Schools. He said police believe the shooter also is young.

“We’re just dealing with a generation that is desensitized to violence,’’ Fitzgerald said “That’s their first go-to, grabbing a gun.”

“We’ve got to go to the drawing board before summertime because too many kids have died just over spring break,’’ he said. “I can only imagine what would happen in the summertime if we don’t as a community come up with a game plan.”

“This makes three kids that left the classroom and won’t return,’’ he said.

Fitzgerald said the shooting took place in a populated area. Investigators believe there are witnesses that could help with the investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call Birmingham homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.