Police arrest two men allegedly linked to 30% of murders in their city

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WKRC) – Police announced the arrest of two men they say were responsible for nearly a third of the murders committed in their city over the course of a summer.

Birmingham police announced Wednesday the arrests of 22-year-old Damien McDaniel and 27-year-old Hatarius Woods in connection with multiple murders, including a mass shooting.

Both suspects were linked to the alleged killing of 61-year-old Charlie Moore at his home on August 13 and to a mass shooting in July at a Birmingham nightclub that left four people dead: 24-year-old Lerandus Anderson, 39- One-year-old Stevie McGhee, 42-year-old Markeisha Gettings and 56-year-old Angela Weatherspoon.

McDaniel was arrested in connection with a mass shooting in September that left 17 injured and four dead: 27-year-old Carlos McCain, 26-year-old Roderick Lynn Patterson Jr., 21-year-old Anitra Holloman and 27-year-old Tahj Booker . Police also said he was connected to the murders of 32-year-old Jamarcus McIntyre and 35-year-old Diontrante Tinae Brown.

The men were charged with multiple counts of murder and assault.

In a press conference, Birmingham Police Officer Truman Fitzgerald stated that McDaniel has been individually linked to at least 11 murders and that he and Woods may be linked to several other murders.

Perhaps the most shocking statistic, however, was the number of murders that Fitzgerald claimed these men were connected to.

“We often say at these crime scenes, ‘We have a select few criminals who are contributing to this crime and giving Birmingham a bad name,'” Fitzgerald said. “Our murders, which occurred from July to September, about 30% involve the name of one of these people. So over a quarter of murders in Birmingham are committed by just a select few people.”

Both men are being held without bond along with several other people who Birmingham police say are connected to the multiple mass shootings.