Nine people were shot, one fatally, near Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama, after the Magic City Classic between Alabama A&M and Alabama State. Police detained one person, and no charges had been announced as of Sunday afternoon.
Magic City Classic Shooting Unfolds Near Legion Field
Police received the first calls at about 7:50 p.m. CDT on Saturday, Oct. 31, according to theGrio, WBRC and Fox News. That time equals about 00:50 UTC on Nov. 1. Officers went to the 400 block of Graymont Avenue West, near the stadium. They found nine people with gunshot wounds. One person died, one was in critical condition and seven were stable as of early Sunday, per WBRC and Fox News.
Police recovered multiple firearms at the scene. No officers or first responders were hurt. City officials suspended all remaining Magic City Classic tailgating and asked the public to stay away from Legion Field property. Fox News noted the event usually draws more than 100,000 fans and includes a parade and large tailgates. None of the outlets gave an attendance figure for this year’s game.
WBRC first published its report at 8:51 p.m. CDT on Oct. 31, which equals 01:51 UTC on Nov. 1, and labeled it a developing story. TheGrio updated its own version at 21:25 UTC on Nov. 1. The outlets also describe the toll in two ways. Some headlines say nine were shot and one was killed. Others say one person died and eight were injured.
Both describe the same nine victims. ABC 33/40 placed the first police calls shortly after 7:50 p.m., matching the other outlets. TheGrio reported that police detained one person that night and took that person to headquarters for questioning, but it did not say whether officers viewed the person as a suspect.
Mayor Describes Two Separate Shootings
Early reports described one shooting. A Sunday afternoon update changed that. ABC 33/40 reported that Mayor Randall Woodfin described two shootings. The first happened outside the stadium perimeter and tailgate area, and six people were hit. Less than eight minutes later, while officers responded, a second shooting hit three people across the street near vendors on Graymont Avenue.
Woodfin said the victims ranged in age from 19 to about 30. Birmingham Fire and Rescue treated more than 50 people in total, including the nine shooting victims, ABC 33/40 reported. The outlet also noted that officials did not give a consistent breakdown of the victims’ conditions. The one-dead, one-critical, seven-stable split comes from WBRC and Fox News, which relied on police information from Saturday night.
Police Chief Michael Pickett called the violence a “senseless act” in his Saturday night remarks, according to WBRC. Woodfin also called it senseless and said the community is grieving. He urged the public not to let the violence define the game or the city.
Investigators Look For More Than One Suspect
Authorities are working with several agencies. WBRC listed the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Vestavia Hills Police, FBI Birmingham, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
ABC 33/40 reported that one person remains in custody on a 48-hour hold. Woodfin said that person carried a firearm with a Glock conversion switch, a device that can make a pistol fire automatically. He also said the person has no affiliation with either university. Investigators believe more than one suspect took part.
No one has faced charges, and police have not publicly named the person who died or the other victims. Police asked anyone with video or information to contact the Birmingham Police homicide unit or Crime Stoppers. Tips can stay anonymous, per theGrio.
City Leaders Defend Safety Record Of The Classic
The Magic City Classic ranks among the biggest events in HBCU football, and local outlets such as Fox 10 described it as the largest HBCU football game in the country. That scale put city leaders on the defensive Sunday. Woodfin stressed that the shootings happened after the game and outside its official events. Public safety chief Carlton Peoples cited city figures showing homicides down nearly 74 percent and nonfatal shootings down 18 percent since 2024, per ABC 33/40. Pickett did not take questions at the news conference, the outlet reported. The city also offered mental health resources to victims, families and witnesses.
Watch for three developments. Police may name the victims and the person in custody. Prosecutors may file charges before the 48-hour hold ends. And organizers of the Classic may announce changes to security around Legion Field for future games. The investigation remains active, and officials have not released a motive.
