Two people died and 12 others were injured Saturday night when rival groups exchanged gunfire in downtown Montgomery, Alabama’s crowded nightlife district, with police continuing to investigate Sunday.
Montgomery Police Chief James Graboys described the incident as a mass shooting involving “two parties involved that were basically shooting at each other in the middle of a crowd.” The shooters “did not care about the people around them when they did it,” Graboys said.
Police responded around 11:30 p.m. Saturday to the busy downtown area. The shooting began when someone targeted one of the 14 victims, prompting multiple people to draw weapons and return fire, according to Graboys.
The deceased include a 43-year-old woman and a 17-year-old male. Seven of the 14 victims were under 20 years old, with the youngest being 16. Five wounded individuals were hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, including a juvenile.
Police had not released information about suspected shooters, the number of individuals who fired weapons, or weapon types used. Exact ages and identities of victims were not yet disclosed.
The shooting occurred during a particularly busy weekend in Montgomery, with Alabama State University’s homecoming football game at Hornet Stadium that day, the Alabama National Fair ongoing at Garrett Coliseum, and the Tuskegee University-Morehouse College rivalry football game having just ended at nearby Cramton Bowl.
Police patrols were nearby when shooting began. One officer arrived so quickly he transported a victim to the hospital before an ambulance arrived, Graboys said.
The incident highlights ongoing challenges cities face managing public safety during high-volume events when large crowds create both opportunity for violence and complications for law enforcement response.
