Gun battle inside a Birmingham beauty supply shop

Birmingham, Ala —

Suspects are still on the loose following a Wednesday gun battle between the owner of a Birmingham beauty supply store and two masked and armed robbers.

Shots were fired throughout the business.

“I’m very upset about it. I’m very surprised that it happened at this business in particular because Craig Smith and his whole family are like community advocates,” said Zsa’ssata Williams, a customer and friend of the owner of C&C Beauty Supply at 136 6th Avenue in Southwest Birmingham.

She’s seen the terrifying security camera video.

It shows two masked men entering the store Wednesday shortly after 6:30 pm. They had guns. A customer and sales associate at the counter. The customer forced to the ground. That’s when the owner opened fire. Then the shootout.

The owner of the store was in a back room watching the events unfold on a security camera. He waited for the customer to get out of the way. Then he fired a shot. The suspects returned fire. And one of the bullets hit a door hinge. The owner was very lucky that he wasn’t hit.

“This interaction between the suspect and the victims was so brief and so quick. And anyone could have lost their lives in that gun battle,” said Birmingham Police Sgt. Johnny Williams.

The owner, Craig Smith, didn’t want to talk on camera. But he showed us the damage in his store from the gun battle — and the actual bullet holes.

And take look at this: A bullet hit the head of a store mannequin.

Zsa’ssata Williams has a message for the suspects.

“We will not allow you to terrorize our community any longer. It’s not fair to our children. It’s not fair to the elders. It’s not fair to anyone to come inti a beauty supply store and shop for products without worrying about being robbed,” she said.

The owner of the beauty supply store says he’s been there for two years.

This is the first time he’s been robbed.

But, he remains open for business.

That’s because he said he didn’t want to give the robbers a victory.

Police are searching for the suspects.

Call Birmingham Police at (205) 254-1753 or Crime Stoppers at (205) 254-7777, if you have any information.