A construction worker was shot to death Wednesday night during a robbery at a house undergoing renovation in Ensley, according to Birmingham police.

The shooting happened just after 7 p.m. in the 1400 block of 27th Street in Ensley.

The construction crew was inside the house when a group of males forced their way inside and robbed all of the crew members, said Officer Truman Fitzgerald. The victim was killed during the robbery.

Investigators believe there is a strong likelihood that suspects are part of a group that has been targeting Hispanic construction workers and other Hispanic victims since October.

Though one suspect was arrested, and another is charged but still on the run, Fitzgerald said investigators there were other members of the group still at large.

“As many of you know, we have had a string of robberies that have taken place since October of last year where suspects have absolutely preyed upon our Hispanic brothers and sisters and we believe this event tonight was just that,’’ Fitzgerald said.

“It’s the night we’ve been praying against and unfortunately,” he said, “we’ve lost one of our Hispanic brothers to a robbery.”

Police earlier this month announced they were searching for Jakobie Deontay Smith, 20, who was charged with at least 32 counts of first-degree robbery.

Investigators in November charged Evontay Blevins, 19, with 32 counts of first-degree robbery. They withheld announcing his arrest while they tried to find Smith.

Blevins remains held in the Jefferson County on bonds totaling more than $2 million.

Police in late October announced more than 40 Hispanic victims had been targeted that month, with at least six people robbed in five different incidents in less than four hours on one day.

“It’s extremely alarming because we know this group is not going to stop until we stop them,’’ Fitzgerald said at the time. “They’ve shown no signs that they’re going to stop.”

The victims included families and workers at construction sites and other businesses.

Police have worked to get the word out to potential victims and even contractors and business owners who hire Hispanic workers.

He said Hispanic victims are often targeted for robbery because they often carry large amounts of cash and are sometimes reluctant to notify police when they are victimized.

Fitzgerald said Wednesday night’s robbery was very similar to those in the past, but the first to turn deadly.

“This is just a night that we all feared,’’ he said.

The victim is Birmingham’s seventh homicide and the first in 10 days.

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