Community tips continue to pour in two weeks after deadly Five Points South mass shooting

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - Nearly two weeks have passed since a deadly mass shooting outside a club in Birmingham’s Five Points South neighborhood, and while no arrests have been made, law enforcement is optimistic. Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama reports a steady flow of tips, which could help lead police to the suspect.

According to Crime Stoppers’ Executive Director Bob Copus, the nonprofit has received well over 120 tips related to the shooting.

“This is about everyone’s right to live in a safe neighborhood,” Copus said. “So it’s everybody’s right to a safe place to live, and our community is suffering from a surge of violent crime, so we have to work together to get that done.”

Crime Stoppers has seen a significant increase in community involvement this year. Compared to 2023, where they helped close 164 cases, this year they’ve already helped police clear 612 cases. They’ve also issued more rewards—more than $96,000 this year, compared to $58,000 last year.

“We don’t work unless the public buys into it, and that’s exactly what’s happening this year,” Copus said.

Even with the increase in tips, many reward payouts go unclaimed. Program Coordinator Ken Atkinson says only 20-25% of rewards are picked up.

“Once we notify you that you have a reward, you have two weeks to claim it, but a lot of times it just never gets picked up,” Atkinson said.

Atkinson also emphasized that Crime Stoppers keeps tipsters anonymous, often with no interaction needed. Most tips are submitted online, and if a reward is claimed, the process remains confidential.

“If your information leads to an arrest, you’re assigned a number. You simply give that number to a teller at our partner bank, and they give you your money—no names involved,” Atkinson explained.

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