Nine people were shot, one fatally, outside Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama, on Saturday night after the Magic City Classic, the annual football game between Alabama A&M and Alabama State. Birmingham police say officers were called to the 400 block of Graymont Avenue West, just outside the stadium, around 7:50 p.m.
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One person was pronounced dead at the scene. As of early Sunday morning, police said one of the eight surviving victims was in critical condition and the other seven were in stable condition. Police have not released the names or ages of any of the victims.
Multiple firearms were recovered at the scene. One person was detained and taken to Birmingham Police headquarters for questioning, but no charges have been filed, and police have not identified a suspect or said what led to the shooting. No officers or first responders were hurt.
Right after the shooting, police shut down all remaining Magic City Classic tailgating and asked the public to stay away from the Legion Field property.
Birmingham Police Chief Michael Pickett called the shooting a “senseless act of violence” and thanked the officers and first responders who helped at the scene. Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin also released a statement Saturday night calling it “senseless violence.”
The Magic City Classic is the largest HBCU football game in the country. The rivalry between Alabama A&M and Alabama State dates back to 1924, and the event usually draws more than 100,000 fans to Birmingham for a parade, a full day of tailgating and the game itself. It is also the biggest event of the year in the city, bringing in an estimated $25 million for the local economy.
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Birmingham police are asking anyone who has video from the scene, or any information about the shooting, to contact the department.
