Authorities have released the name of a teen gunned down Saturday at an east Birmingham apartment.

Police identified the victim as Kamaree Shondale Phillips. He was 17 and attended Clay-Chalkville High School.

He is one of three high school students slain in Birmingham during spring break and one of five teens fatally shot so far this year in the city.

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

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 Phillips, who had sustained critical injuries, on the ground outside of a vehicle. He was rushed to St. Vincent’s East 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.

Phillips, police said, was in a vehicle when the unknown shooter walked up to the vehicle and began firing. Fitzgerald said it appeared the victim was targeted, and that the shooter may also have been young.

Phillips is the third teen fatally shot in Birmingham in six days. Two Birmingham City Schools students were also 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.

In January, 17-year-old Ryan Marable was killed. He was found dead behind an Inglenook home.

Jaylen Clark, a 17-year-old Parker High School senior, was shot to death Jan. 29.

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

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

Phillips is Birmingham’s 27th homicide this year. Of those, two have been ruled justifiable and therefore aren’t deemed criminal.

In all of Jefferson County, there have 33 homicides, including the 27 in Birmingham.

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