In brief
A chaotic scene unfolded in Montgomery, Alabama on Saturday night as gunfire erupted in the downtown area following a local football game. Two lost their lives, including a 43-year-old woman and a 17-year-old boy, while twelve others were injured. Police are urgently seeking information as they piece together the events that led to the shooting.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A shooting incident involving rival gunmen occurred in a crowded nightlife district in Alabama's capital on Saturday night, leading to two fatalities and injuring twelve others. Authorities confirmed that the deceased included a 43-year-old woman, Shalanda Williams, and a 17-year-old, Jeremiah Morris. Five victims were hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, according to Montgomery police.
The chaos began post the Tuskegee University-Morehouse College football rivalry game, with multiple shooters opening fire in a densely populated area near notable landmarks such as the Hank Williams Museum and the Alabama Statehouse.
Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed addressed the media, emphasizing that the city is committed to holding not only the shooters accountable but also anyone connected to the violence. He expressed outrage over the disregard for human life exhibited by those involved.
As police continue to investigate, no arrests had been made by Sunday afternoon, and authorities are reviewing surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses. The gunfight, labeled a 'mass shooting' by police, started when an unidentified party targeted one of the fourteen victims, prompting a retaliatory exchange of gunfire.
Among the victims, seven were under the age of 20, with the youngest being a 16-year-old. The police reported that at least two victims were found to be armed, and multiple weapons were recovered from the scene. Neighborhood patrols were just meters away when the shooting erupted, highlighting a troubling escalation of violence during an otherwise festive weekend in Montgomery.