A mass shooting erupted in downtown Montgomery, Alabama, on Saturday night, October 4, 2025, leaving two people dead and 12 others wounded when multiple gunmen opened fire into a crowd during a busy weekend of festivities. The violence began around 11:30 p.m. near Bibb Street and Commerce Street, transforming what had been a celebratory evening into chaos.
Police identified the victims who died as 17-year-old Jeremiah Morris and 43-year-old Shalanda Williams, both believed to be from Montgomery. Morris was a student at McIntyre Comprehensive Academy, where he served as Mr. Star Academy 2024-2025 and had been nominated for Student of the Year. School officials remembered him as a remarkable young man whose kindness and joy touched everyone who knew him.
Of the 12 people injured, five were in critical condition with life-threatening wounds as of October 10, while seven others suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Seven of the total victims are under age 20, with the youngest being just 16 years old.
Montgomery Police Chief James Graboys explained at a Sunday afternoon press conference that the shootout “started as a result of an individual who we believe was targeted,” prompting multiple people in the crowd to draw their own weapons and start firing. The chief indicated that when the initial exchange erupted, several armed individuals in the densely packed area began discharging their weapons, creating what he described as a very chaotic situation.
The shooting occurred during one of Montgomery’s busiest weekends, with thousands of visitors in town for multiple events. The city was hosting the Alabama National Fair, HBCU Classic Weekend, and Alabama State University’s homecoming weekend. A football game between Tuskegee University and Morehouse College had just concluded at nearby Cramton Bowl, and the city had set up various downtown attractions including a Ferris wheel for the festivities.
Investigators recovered multiple weapons and shell casings from the scene. Graboys noted that all firearms involved had high magazine capacities, with some having very high capacities. At least two of the victims were among those who were armed during the incident. Police officers were positioned within 50 feet of the shooting when it began and could hear the gunfire as it erupted.
On October 10, 2025, Montgomery police announced the arrest of a suspect. The individual, whose identity has not been publicly disclosed, is facing multiple charges related to the incident. The arrest came after days of investigation involving extensive video analysis, witness interviews, and coordination among local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.
The investigation has drawn resources from more than a dozen law enforcement agencies at the local, state and federal levels. Participating agencies include the Montgomery Police Department, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Marshals Service, and the Alabama Fusion Center, among others.
During Tuesday’s press conference, Graboys addressed concerns about gang activity in Montgomery following a statement from the Alabama Sheriff’s Association that identified the city as having a criminal gang problem. The chief acknowledged that gangs exist and are problematic, referencing his early law enforcement career in the 1990s when people were reluctant to discuss the issue. He expressed confidence that the current partnership with multiple state and federal agencies could provide opportunities to address gang violence.
Mayor Steven Reed highlighted recent efforts to strengthen public safety, noting that the city’s police budget has increased from $44.6 million to nearly $60 million over the past decade. The 2025 fiscal year budget included a 15 percent raise for all police officers and funding for equipment modernization, including new patrol vehicles, tasers, and surveillance technology. Reed also mentioned the city’s advocacy for gun safety measures, including opposition to the state’s 2023 permitless carry law.
The mayor and city council have offered a combined $50,000 reward for information leading to arrests, in addition to a $5,000 reward from Central Alabama CrimeStoppers. Reed emphasized that the shooting was unrelated to any of the weekend’s organized events and involved what he characterized as a handful of reckless individuals who changed the fortunes of many innocent people.
Governor Kay Ivey announced that she has directed the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency to expand state trooper patrols to include additional areas of downtown Montgomery beyond the usual capitol complex coverage. City Council President C.C. Calhoun indicated that the council will consider expanding the existing curfew for those 17 and under to be citywide in response to the incident.
Police are asking anyone with video evidence to submit it to their department as they work to piece together the complex investigation involving numerous individuals and extensive evidence.