A chaotic scene unfolded in a crowded downtown Montgomery nightlife district late Saturday night when rival gunmen exchanged fire, resulting in the deaths of two people and the injury of 12 others, including several with life-threatening wounds. Police are actively investigating the “mass shooting” and appealing to the public for information, as no arrests have yet been made.
The deceased have been identified by police as Shalanda Williams, 43, and Jeremiah Morris, 17. Five of the wounded, including a juvenile, were hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, according to Montgomery police.
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The incident occurred around 11:30 p.m. in an area close to historical landmarks like the Hank Williams Museum, the Rosa Parks Museum, and the Alabama Statehouse. It broke out shortly after the conclusion of the Tuskegee University-Morehouse College rivalry football game held blocks away, during a particularly busy weekend for the city.
Montgomery Police Chief James Graboys said the shooting began when someone targeted one of the eventual 14 victims, prompting “multiple people” to draw their own weapons and begin firing back.
“This was two parties involved that were basically shooting at each other in the middle of a crowd,” Graboys stated during a news conference, emphasizing that the shooters “had no regard for human life” and “did not care about the people around them.”
Seven of the 14 victims were under the age of 20, with the youngest being 16. The police chief also noted that at least two of the victims were armed. Multiple weapons and shell casings were recovered from the complex crime scene.
As of Sunday afternoon, investigators were reviewing surveillance video, interviewing witnesses, and trying to establish a motive for the outbreak of violence.
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Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed vowed a comprehensive response. “We’re gonna do whatever we can not only to arrest those responsible, we’re going to do whatever to arrest those connected in any way, who knew what may have happened, who knew what could take place,” Reed said at a Sunday news conference. “We’re not going just to stop with those folks that were pulling the trigger last night.”
Despite police patrols being within 50 feet of where the shooting occurred, the rapid escalation overwhelmed the scene. Chief Graboys commended one officer who was so quick to arrive that they personally transported a victim to the hospital before an ambulance could arrive.
Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward to assist in the ongoing investigation.
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