Neighbors: Copper Top shooting surreal

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WALA) - The doors of the Copper Top in Tuscaloosa remained covered and closed after deputies said a gunman opened fire on the crowded bar.

"It was really surreal to think that something like that could happen in my backyard. You really wonder the reason why someone would bring an automatic weapon in a bar and open fire," said Daniel Bammerlin who lives just across the street from the bar.

Bammerlin said he moved into his apartment just three weeks ago.

The University of Alabama graduate said he was watching a movie with his girlfriend last Monday when they heard what they believed were firecrackers.

“So it was like pop… Pop pop pop pop…pop. So I can understand why she thought it sounded like firecrackers but it wasn’t the right noise," he said.

Bammerlin said when he stepped outside, he saw chaos.

Police said the gunman, identified as 44-year-old Nathan Van Wilkin, opened fire from outside the bar with a semi-automatic rifle. They said 17 people were injured in the incident; three were students at the university.

Many in the area said that level of violence is unheard of.

"Whatever set him off, that there wasn’t better security or something to stop this from happening; yes, that’s very worrisome. And I hate that that happened here," said one woman from Tuscaloosa.

"Like any other city of 100,000 people, there are shootings and crime but you never have anything like this; not that I’ve seen," said one man.

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