Montgomery, Alabama, was supposed to be buzzing with celebration on the night of October 4, 2025. The city’s downtown was alive with festivities: Alabama State University’s homecoming football game had drawn crowds to Hornet Stadium, the Alabama National Fair was in full swing at Garrett Coliseum, and the Tuskegee University-Morehouse College rivalry game had just wrapped up at Cramton Bowl. But as Saturday bled into Sunday, the mood shifted from jubilant to tragic, as a mass shooting erupted in the heart of the city’s nightlife district, leaving two dead and a dozen others wounded.
According to The Associated Press, the chaos began around 11:30 p.m. when police were called to a crowded stretch of downtown Montgomery. Montgomery Police Chief James Graboys described the scene as one of utter confusion and terror. "This was two parties involved that were basically shooting at each other in the middle of a crowd," he told reporters near the scene. "The shooters did not care about the people around them when they did it." His words painted a grim picture of the disregard for human life that played out that night.
As details trickled out, the scale of the violence became clear. Fourteen people were struck by gunfire. Among the deceased were Shalanda Williams, a 43-year-old woman, and Jeremiah Morris, a 17-year-old male. Of the 12 wounded, five were hospitalized with life-threatening injuries—including a juvenile. Seven of the 14 victims were under 20 years old, with the youngest just 16, according to police statements cited by NBC News and The Independent.
The shooting, authorities said, began when one of the victims was targeted. In the split-second aftermath, others in the crowd pulled their own weapons and returned fire, turning the area into a war zone. Chief Graboys explained, "As you can imagine, that could be a very chaotic situation, and every weapon has to be accounted for, and every piece of evidence has to be processed." Police recovered multiple weapons and high-capacity shell casings from the scene, but as of Sunday afternoon, no suspects had been arrested. The motive remained under investigation, and the public was urged to submit any video evidence to aid in the search for those responsible.
The violence unfolded just steps from major Montgomery landmarks, including the Hank Williams Museum, the Rosa Parks Museum, and the Alabama Statehouse. Police patrols were nearby—within 50 feet of the shooting, according to Mayor Steven Reed. One officer responded so quickly that he transported a victim to the hospital before an ambulance could arrive, a testament to the urgency and confusion of the moment.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic and heartbreak. Brandon Burnham, owner of the Paradigm Lounge near the shooting site, recounted to WSFA 12 News, "I was in the office when everything happened. I just heard a ton of shots, people started running inside Paradigm, even in the office where I was. I couldn’t even count how many shots it was, but quite a few." Burnham said people were fleeing in all directions, with some laid out on the sidewalk and others desperately trying to resuscitate the wounded.
As the city reeled, officials at every level responded swiftly. Mayor Reed, city council members, state troopers, and medical personnel all converged on the scene within minutes. The mayor, speaking at a press conference the next day, vowed, "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." He didn’t mince words about the shooters, stating they "had no regard for human life." Reed also emphasized the need for community cooperation, urging anyone with information to come forward: "If anybody has any information, you have a responsibility for this community, and to help people in this community to give that information to us."
The city’s leadership was quick to defend its efforts to combat gun violence in the face of criticism. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall issued a statement offering his "deepest sympathies" to the victims and declaring that the shooting "underscores, once again, that our capital city is in crisis." He pointedly criticized city officials for what he described as a "stubborn refusal to acknowledge that they have a serious problem."
Mayor Reed fired back during his press conference, highlighting the city’s investments in technology, first responders, and intervention programs. "If you look at our budget. If you look at the amount of money we’ve put into technology, that we have put into first responders, bringing in the best and brightest for our law enforcement, working with faith leaders and grassroots nonprofits, intervention programs [...] I don’t know how one could really make that statement after seeing what we’ve been doing here over the last six years," Reed said. He called for collaboration on issues like bond reform and permitless carry, arguing, "What the city needs is solutions, not sideline commentary." Reed shared his own experience with gun violence, saying, "I’ve had a gun pointed at my face. I’ll never forget it, and these people will never forget what happened to them last night. I don’t need that type of sideline commentary from the state’s top law enforcement officer, what I need is solutions."
Reactions from other officials and community leaders poured in. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey, a longtime Montgomery resident, issued a statement on October 6 outlining "additional steps from the state level to deter crime" and expressing her determination not to let violence define the city. Montgomery City Councilmember Julie Turner Beard wrote on Facebook, "Mass shooting and Montgomery are two words that should never go together," voicing both sadness and anger over what she called a senseless act. Councilman Andrew Szymanski and Councilwoman Marche Jackson also offered condolences and support for victims, their families, and the broader community.
On the national stage, Alabama U.S. Senator Katie Britt called the shooting "heinous, senseless violence" and urged prayers for the victims and their families. Representative Shomari Figures labeled the event "unacceptable" and called for an end to reckless gun violence, while Senator Tommy Tuberville expressed deep concern about rising crime in Montgomery, stating, "It’s past time for city leadership to take responsibility and put an end to this."
Meanwhile, the investigation continues. Police are reviewing surveillance footage, interviewing witnesses, and combing through the physical evidence. Mayor Reed has offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to arrests, supplementing an initial $5,000 from Crime Stoppers. The hope is that community cooperation and determined law enforcement will bring answers—and, perhaps, some measure of justice—to a city still reeling from a night that should have been filled with joy.
Montgomery’s weekend of celebration was shattered by violence, leaving a community to mourn, reflect, and grapple with the urgent question of how to prevent such tragedy from striking again.
