4 men arrested in shootout at Woodlawn High School reunion picnic: ‘Thank God a life was not taken’

Four men have been arrested in the weekend shootout at a Woodlawn High School reunion picnic.

The shooting happened shortly after 7 p.m. Saturday in back parking lot of the school in the 5600 block of First Avenue, seriously injuring an innocent bystander and damaging multiple cars.

Those charged with first-degree assault are Camron Hinton, 22, Freddy Hurst III, 22, D’Andre Watkins, 27, and Stefon Todd, 28.

The were booked into the Jefferson County Jail on $30,000 bond each.

Police responded to the school after the city’s Shot Spotter gunfire detection picked up one incident of three shots fired, and then a second burst with 10 shots fired.

Officers arrived to find about seven vehicles damaged by the gunfire.

Shots rang out near Woodlawn High School Saturday evening during a reunion picnic. Multiple cars were damaged and woman was reported injured.(Carol Robinson)

A young woman then showed up a short time later at UAB Hospital with gunshot injuries. She told staff she was shot at Woodlawn High School.

The school has had reunion activities all week, culminating Saturday with a picnic and other festivities at the school.

Fitzgerald said two groups of people who were in attendance at the function got into an argument. The argument was between one person from each group.

Officers and investigators quickly developed potential suspects. Within hours, Fitzgerald said, Special Enforcement Teams officers initiated a felony traffic stop at the Arkadelphia Road/I-59N entrance ramp.

The four suspects were detained with an assortment of firearms, Fitzgerald said.

All four were booked into the Birmingham City Jail on a 48-hour hold until warrants were signed on Monday.

“The swift arrest of these four individuals should send a clear message that shooting innocent people, in our community, will not be tolerated,” said Birmingham Police Chief Michael Pickett.

“I urge community members to speak up and share any addition video evidence of the shooting, to ensure those responsible are held fully accountable.”

“Thank God a life was not taken,” Pickett said. “However, we want to make sure these shooters remain behind bars, so that they don’t have the opportunity to take an innocent life.”

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

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