Girl, 15, 'fighting for life' after targeted shooting at Birmingham store that also injured 14-year-old boy

A 15-year-old girl is fighting for her life after she and a teenager were injured in a targeted shooting at a gas station west of Birmingham.

At least 10 shots rang out around 9:40 p.m. Monday at Gas Land on Bessemer Road in the Belview Heights neighborhood.

Officer Truman Fitzgerald said officers arrived at the gas station and found the two teens on the ground in the parking lot.

Both had been shot. The teenager did not respond.

Fitzgerald said the two teens may have been siblings, but that has not yet been confirmed.

Birmingham Fire and Rescue transported the victims to Children's of Alabama. The girl is in critical condition.

“She’s keen to survive right now,” he said.

The boy suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Investigators said the victims were at the gas station with an adult.

Several people were hanging out in the parking lot at the time of the shooting.

“The unknown suspect(s) drove by and shot the juveniles,” Fitzgerald said. “Based on everything our patrol officers and detectives have told me, we are investigating this as a targeted shooting.”

“The question is why these minors were targeted,” he said. “It’s important for us to get information from everyone who was here.”

“Apparently there were a lot of people in the parking lot,” he said. “We need to find out what happened before these two miners are shot.”

The teens reportedly arrived in a van rented by East Lake Moving and Storage.

The van was hit by bullets, as was the business.

Fortunately, Fitzgerald said, no bullets actually entered the store, but they did damage the exterior walls.

No arrests have been made. Detectives are working with the company as part of the investigation.

“What can a 15- or 14-year-old do to fight for his life, and the other can get together with a friend or family member to fight for his life?,” Fitzgerald said.

“We see this decision made every week in Birmingham,” Fitzgerald said.

“Small problems escalate into gunfire.”

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