A shooting outside Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama, killed one person and wounded eight others on Saturday night following the Magic City Classic, authorities said.
The gunfire broke out shortly after 7:50 p.m. in the 400 block of Graymont Avenue West, according to Birmingham Police Department Assistant Public Information Officer De’Rell Freeman. The shooting occurred in an area where vendors were operating outside the stadium, WBMA reported.
Casualties and Emergency Response
Birmingham Police Chief Michael Pickett reported that one person died from their injuries, one remained in critical condition and seven other victims were listed in stable condition, according to WBMA. The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office confirmed the fatality, the New York Post reported via AL.com, though authorities had not publicly identified the deceased victim as of Sunday morning.
Pickett noted that while most families and attendees had already departed the stadium grounds, crowds remained in the surrounding streets. Following the gunfire, law enforcement suspended all post-game tailgating activities and instructed visitors to clear the property around Legion Field immediately.
Pickett commended responding officers who rushed toward the sound of gunfire to provide aid. “Our Birmingham police officers are true heroes,” Pickett said, adding that he was grateful that even more people were not hurt.
Investigation and Detainment
Investigators took one person into custody for questioning at police headquarters, Freeman said. Officers also recovered multiple firearms from the scene, WBMA reported. As of late Saturday night, police had not filed charges against the individual or disclosed a suspected motive for the shooting.
The department announced that it is collaborating with the FBI and additional regional law enforcement partners on the investigation. Pickett urged anyone with video recorded around the time of the gunfire to submit it to homicide investigators anonymously.
“It may seem like it’s nothing. It may seem insignificant. Please send it in,” Pickett said during a press briefing, according to WBMA.
Community Reaction
The Magic City Classic is the nation’s largest football rivalry involving historically Black colleges and universities, pitting Alabama A&M University against Alabama State University. Pickett emphasized that the violence would not permanently taint the event, calling the classic a long-standing community staple.
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin condemned the bloodshed, expressing sorrow for the victims and their families in an official statement.
“There is no argument, no beef, no misunderstanding that can justify this level of senseless violence during a night of celebration,” Woodfin said. “We refuse to let fear shake the spirit of this community.”
U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell also addressed the violence, stating that her office remained in contact with local authorities. Sewell said the community deserves the right to observe long-standing traditions safely and without the threat of gun violence.
Past shootings have occurred near the stadium during prior Classic weekends, including an injury shooting in a parking lot in 2014 and two separate shootings near the venue the day before the 2024 game, according to WBMA archives. Police have not yet released the identities of the victims or announced formal charges as the investigation continues.
