Two dead, 12 injured in Montgomery mass shooting

[Jaun Deere]

Montgomery, Alabama - Montgomery Police have confirmed a mass shooting late Saturday night resulted in two deaths and 12 injuries. The incident happened around 11:30 p.m. near Bibb and Commerce Streets, less than a mile from the Alabama State Capitol. Among the dead are 17-year-old Jeremiah Morris and 43-year-old Shalanda Williams. The injured include seven victims under the age of 20, with one juvenile in critical condition. Five victims have life-threatening injuries. Seven victims have non-life-threatening injuries. The youngest victim in this shooting was 16 years old. Police Chief James Graboys said officials believe one of the 14 victims was targeted, when an exchange of gunfire erupted between two groups of people in a crowded area. Graboys said when that exchange began, several other people in the crowd pulled out their own weapons and started firing. At least two of the victims were armed at the time of the shooting. The actual motive behind the mass shooting is still under investigation. "The shooters did not care about the people around them when they did it," he said. Multiple calibers of ammunition were used, and several weapons were recovered. Graboys emphasized the chaotic nature of the scene, noting, "Every weapon has to be accounted for, every piece of evidence has to be processed." The Montgomery Police Department has reached out to ATF, the FBI, the U.S. Attorney's Office, the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office, among others. Mayor Steven Reed addressed the media, describing the incident as "unfortunate but certainly avoidable." He stressed that the shooting was not related to any sanctioned events in the city, such as the Alabama State University homecoming or the Alabama National Fair. Reed announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest, with contributions from Crime Stoppers, the mayor's office and the city council president. Mayor Reed said he would personally contact the victims and their families. The investigation is ongoing, with multiple people being questioned. Authorities urge anyone with information to contact Montgomery Police or Central Alabama CrimeStoppers. The City of Montgomery’s Office of Violence Prevention and local partners will offer victim support services today from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Sheridan Heights Park. Counselors and advocates will be on site to provide care and resources for those affected.

Source: https://abc3340.com/news/alabama-news/t ... s-shooting
Date: 1759554000
File ID: 6646672