One dead, eight wounded in shooting near Birmingham's Legion Field after the Magic City Classic
Nine people were shot near Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama, after the Magic City Classic. One died, one is critical and one person is held.
At a glance
- Nine people were shot near Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama, at about 7:50 pm on Saturday; one died.
- One of the wounded is in critical condition and seven are stable, police said.
- Multiple firearms were recovered and one person was taken in for questioning. No motive has been given.
- All Magic City Classic tailgating was suspended, and police are asking the public for video.
Nine people were shot, one fatally, near Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama, on Saturday night, about an hour after the Magic City Classic football game between Alabama A&M and Alabama State had finished. Birmingham police said one of the wounded was in critical condition and seven were stable as of early Sunday.
Officers were called to the 400 block of Graymont Avenue West at about 7:50 pm local time and found several people with gunshot wounds. One person has been detained and taken to police headquarters for questioning. No charges had been announced and no motive given.
What police have confirmed so far
| Detail | Status |
|---|---|
| People shot | 9 |
| Dead | 1 |
| Critical | 1 |
| Stable | 7 |
| Detained | 1, for questioning |
| Firearms | Multiple recovered at the scene |
| Officers or first responders hurt | None |
The victims have not been publicly named. Police spokesman Officer Darrell Freeman called it "an active scene with developing information", so these figures may still change.
Police Chief Michael Pickett said the shooting was not inside the stadium. "This did occur after the game," he said. "For the most part, it was off of the property." He called it a "senseless act of violence".
A tailgate crowd, and an event with a long history
The Magic City Classic is one of the biggest games in historically Black college football, played each year at Legion Field and drawing tens of thousands to the stadium and the surrounding lots. Tailgating around the ground typically runs well after the final whistle, which meant many people were still in the area when the shots were fired.
Police secured the scene so Birmingham Fire and Rescue could treat the wounded, then suspended all Magic City Classic tailgating and told people to stay away from the Legion Field property.
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Vestavia Hills police, the FBI's Birmingham office, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and the US Attorney's Office all helped with the response. Mayor Randall Woodfin also issued a statement on Saturday night.
An echo of Five Points South
The city has been here before. In September 2024, a shooting in Birmingham's Five Points South nightlife district killed four people and wounded 18, an attack that drew national attention and led to several arrests. The mayor has repeatedly pressed for tougher action on illegal guns and devices that turn pistols into automatic weapons.
Saturday's shooting meets the common definition of a mass shooting, four or more people shot in a single incident.
How the public can help
Birmingham police are asking anyone with video of the shooting to submit it, and say people who do so can remain anonymous.
The next steps are the decision on whether to charge the person being questioned and the Jefferson County coroner's identification of the victim.
