2 Dead, 14 Injured in Downtown Montgomery Shooting

Two people were killed and 14 wounded late Saturday in a shooting that erupted around 11:30 p.m. in downtown Montgomery, where thousands had gathered after a slate of major events, including the Tuskegee–Morehouse Classic, the Alabama National Fair, and Alabama State University’s homecoming, police said.

Montgomery Police Chief Jim Graboys said the gunfire left three victims in life-threatening condition and nine with non-life-threatening injuries. Two of the injured are juveniles, with one in critical condition. Baptist Medical Center South reported treating seven victims: one died, three remained critical, two were stable, and one was treated and released.

“This is not acceptable. This is not normal,” Graboys said, vowing, “We will not rest until we put the people involved in jail.” He added that several people had been brought in for questioning and that some firearms recovered at the scene were equipped with high-capacity magazines. A motive has not been identified, and no suspects had been publicly named as of Sunday.

Mayor Steven Reed condemned the violence in the heart of the entertainment district, noting that police units were within 50 feet on both sides when the shooting began. “To have a heinous event like this take place prior to midnight in a busy part of our entertainment district is reckless and selfish,” he said. “You don’t care about your life? Go jump off a bridge. You don’t pull out a gun and shoot in a crowd of people.”

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are assisting Montgomery police in the investigation.