BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBMA) — Last weekend, Birmingham’s College Hills neighborhood was rocked by gunfire, and now people are calling on a short-term rental company to look into its policies and regulations.
“Thank God nobody was hurt. Cars were damaged, houses were damaged, property was damaged,” Reginald Childress said. “It’s a quiet neighborhood. We all grew up here. We don’t even fight. So why would someone come from somewhere else and start a shooting?”
Childress, who has lived in College Hills since 1965, describes the horrific moment. He said it happened in the early morning hours of August 11.
“It sounded like Thunder on the Mountain, but without the music. It was horrific,” he said. “I’m laying on the floor. Mom’s in bed, getting up, wanting to know what’s going on. Mom’s laying down, just laying down. She’s 96 years old, she can’t move like I can. She can’t move like my brother. I’m a Marine, my brother was in the Army. We’re doing what we have to do to take cover and make sure she’s safe. That’s why we’re here, we’re staying here for her safety. She’s not going anywhere, we’re not going anywhere.”
A video of the incident shows a few people shooting from the porch. Childress believes it was an argument, adding that the sound of gunfire continued for five to 10 minutes before police arrived.
“At 3 a.m. we were all standing outside in the yard and could smell the gun smoke. There were so many shots that we could smell the smoke from the guns out in the neighborhood,” Childress said.
Houses and cars were riddled with bullet holes. A bullet even went through his mother’s bedroom window, just a few feet from the bed where she was sleeping.
Childress said the home was rented through Airbnb. On the company’s website, ABC 33/40 confirmed that the property is listed and available for rent.
“The people who do this don’t live in this community. They’re visitors,” Childress said. “So you’re visiting someone’s home. Act like you’re visiting.”
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Childress described the neighborhood as quiet and said everyone looks out for each other. He said it’s not the first time something like this has happened.
“It’s not about the house. It’s about the people they rent it to. If you rent it out to locals for a weekend to have a party, that’s your problem. This is not a party center, this is a community,” Childress said. “If you go to a party with an AK47 or AR15, I think you’re asking for trouble.”
Now he is calling on Airbnb to ensure that its policies are enforced and to more closely monitor who is renting these properties.
“When you go to a hotel, they want your driver’s license and your car’s license plate. They’ll ask you for that. Simple. Same thing. The house is designed for 6 people, not 26,” Childress said. “Airbnb needs to improve its policies and procedures and regulate how and to whom they rent.”
ABC 33/40 contacted Airbnb with the following questions:
- What does Airbnb do to enforce its party policies?
- What can Airbnb do to ensure that a property is rented legally?
- What is required to rent an Airbnb?
- Is the company rethinking its policies in light of these incidents?
- Is Airbnb holding anyone accountable after this particular incident?
- Are there consequences if I violate the terms and conditions?
- What changes could the company make to ensure that Airbnb-rented properties provide a safe environment for guests, the owner and residents?
If a response is received, this story will be updated.
The City of Birmingham is working on a comprehensive plan to regulate short-term rentals. The Zoning Advisory Committee held a public hearing last month. Changes are currently being made and the plan is scheduled to be presented at the next Zoning Advisory Committee meeting in September.
SEE RELATED COVERAGE ON SHORT-TERM RENTAL REGULATIONS IN BIRMINGHAM:
We have reached out to Birmingham Police for more information on the shooting incident. This article will be updated when that information becomes available.
