Funeral Arrangements Announced for Three Family Members Killed in Birmingham Mass Shooting

Funeral plans have been set for three family members who were tragically killed in a mass shooting at a birthday party in Birmingham. The victims include Angela Weatherspoon, 56, Markeisha Gettings, 42, and Lerandus Anderson, 24. Weatherspoon was Anderson’s grandmother.

A joint service will take place at Boutwell Auditorium on Saturday. Gettings and Anderson both leave behind children.

The three were among four people fatally shot on Saturday night during a birthday celebration for Weatherspoon’s son at a private event venue in Birmingham. The incident also resulted in 10 others being injured.

Visitation for the victims will be held from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday at Eastside Funeral Home in Woodlawn. Saturday’s service is scheduled for 11 a.m. at Boutwell, with burial following at Oakland Memorial Gardens.

The shooting occurred just after 11 p.m. on Saturday in the 3400 block of 27th Street North. Birmingham police Deputy Chief Rodarius Mauldin stated that police began receiving multiple calls about gunfire at the birthday party.

Upon arrival, officers issued a max-emergency call for backup due to the large crowd. The scene was described as chaotic.

McGhee was found shot outside the venue and was pronounced dead at 11:42 p.m. Weatherspoon and Gettings were found shot inside and were also pronounced dead at the same time. Anderson was pronounced dead at the hospital at 11:52 p.m.

Multiple victims arrived at area hospitals with gunshot wounds, some transported by Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service, others by private vehicle. Nine additional injuries were initially reported, but this number was updated to 10 on Sunday.

A separate shooting earlier that same day left three people dead, including a mother and her 5-year-old son.

“Having seven murdered in a day and 10 injured is probably the most tragic day in my time with the Birmingham Police Department,’’ Police Chief Scott Thurmond said on Sunday. “There are too many families who have been devastated and destroyed because of gun violence in our city,’’ he added. “Everyone in this room, to be frank, is sick and tired of it and it has to stop today.”

No arrests have been made yet, and police and city officials have issued multiple pleas for information from the community.

“The Birmingham Police Department’s investigation is better off with credible information that comes from the community,’’ Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin said following the shooting. “Let me define how swift justice works – we can move at a very high speed to solve these cases and bring justice to these families, but it moves faster if we get community buy-in, community support.’’

Woodfin also reminded the public that a $25,000 reward is available for information leading to an arrest in the death of Landyn or any Birmingham child. The Gun Violence Against Children fund was created in 2021 after six children under the age of 10 were shot in the first half of that year.