Crime Stoppers credits public for getting Birmingham mass shooting suspect into courtroom

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama says the public was a key component for getting a Birmingham mass shooting suspect into the courtroom.

Damien McDaniel, who appeared in court on Wednesday, is a defendant in both the Five Points South and the Trendsetters Lounge attacks.

“In both the Trendsetters case and in the Hush case, very quickly the same name was coming up in both of them,” said Crime Stoppers’ Executive Director Bob Copus. “Both of them obviously were valuable to law enforcement. Of course, you get your day in court and we’ll let that all play out.”

McDaniel is indicted on 37 felony counts from five different shootings.

Right now, he’s charged with killing 11 people and shooting 29.

Crime Stoppers stressed that the community’s anonymous tips have the potential to bring justice to families.

“I have talked to so many families,” Copus shared. “They’re just devastated that no one has come forward to say anything.”

However, in the Five Points South mass shooting, the community submitted some 135 tips, six of which led to reward money being provided.

The executive director said no tip is too small and the public should speak up if they ever know something.

“Nobody knows your community better than you,” Copus said.

McDaniel pleaded not guilty to two counts of capital murder of two or more people, capital murder-robbery, capital murder-burglary, and murder.

He also waived arraignment on the other 32 counts.

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