Suspect in mass shooting that killed 4 indicted in another mass shooting, additional homicides

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC/Gray News) - The man accused of shooting and killing four people and wounding 17 others outside an Alabama club in September has been indicted by a grand jury in another mass shooting in July and a homicide in August.

Damien McDaniel was indicted on capital murder of two or more persons and four counts of capital murder committed by or through the use of a deadly weapon fired or otherwise used within or from a vehicle.

Officials said he has been accused of killing Markeshia Gettings, Stevie McGhee, Angela Weatherspoon and Lerandus Anderson at Trendsetters Lounge in Birmingham.

Birmingham police said Tuesday that Hatarius Woods is also facing four counts of capital murder, and both he and McDaniel are facing 10 counts of first-degree assault linked to the July 13 shooting that took place during a birthday party.

Police said the shooting took place after someone fired shots into the lounge from a vehicle following an altercation at the party.

McGhee, 42, was found shot to death on the sidewalk, police said. Gettings, 42, and Weatherspoon, 56, were both found dead inside the lounge. Anderson was taken to UAB Hospital where they were pronounced dead.

Both suspects were also indicted with capital murder during a burglary in the first or second degree or an attempt thereof committed by the defendant in the killing of Charlie Herbert Moore on Aug. 13.

Moore, 61, had been found shot to death in an apartment in a housing community in a community in North Birmingham known as Vice Hills.

Police said officers were alerted to a stolen vehicle and, while investigating, heard gunshots at a nearby apartment. The officers said they saw a person exit an apartment with a gun and confronted him before firing shots.

Police were initially unsure if the suspect was hit.

They said Tuesday that two suspects, identified as McDaniel and Woods, were not hit by the gunfire.

McDaniel had previously been charged in six homicides that happened during a violent crime spree beginning Sept. 19. He is accused of killing Diontranet Brown, 35, at the 604 Lounge, who officers believe was not the intended target.

Two days later, officers said McDaniel killed four people and wounded 17 others outside a club in the Five Points South neighborhood. He has also been charged in connection with the killing of Jamarcus McIntyre, which police said took place less than 24 hours after the mass shooting.

In total, McDaniel is charged with killing 11 people and shooting 30 others in Birmingham since July.

“Let this be a rude awakening for those who think pulling a trigger will somehow solve a problem in their life,” Birmingham Councilor LaTonya Tate, chair of the Public Safety Committee, said in a statement. “It’s beyond selfish. It’s sickening, especially when innocent people are killed as a result.”

“Obviously this will not heal the pain and grief of these families, but my hope is that we can continue to wrap our arms around them as a community and forge a better future for our children - one where violent actions have consequences.”

Authorities said they believe some of the homicides are being investigated as murder-for-hire.

They also said they believe there may be multiple suspects involved in the mass shooting at Trendsetters Lounge, but McDaniel is the only one in custody.