BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — One person was killed and eight others were wounded in a shooting near Legion Field after the Magic City Classic on Saturday night, Birmingham police said.
One of the surviving victims was in critical condition and seven were in stable condition early Sunday, police said. Nine people in all were struck by gunfire.
Officers responded around 7:50 p.m. Saturday to the 400 block of Graymont Avenue West, near Fourth Street West, where they found multiple people with gunshot wounds. The shooting occurred after the annual football rivalry game between Alabama A&M University and Alabama State University.
“This did occur after the game,” Birmingham Police Chief Michael Pickett said, according to ABC News. “For the most part, it was off of the property.”
Officers recovered multiple firearms at the scene, and one person was detained and taken to police headquarters for questioning, police said. Authorities had not publicly identified a suspect or announced an arrest in the reports available Sunday morning.
The circumstances leading to the shooting remained under investigation.
The gunfire erupted more than an hour after Alabama A&M defeated Alabama State 31-28 in the 85th annual Magic City Classic, according to AL.com. Crowds were still tailgating around the stadium.
Shortly before 9 p.m., police suspended all Magic City Classic tailgating and directed people to leave the stadium property.
“Everyone needs to leave the stadium property as soon as possible. Please do not come to the Legion Field stadium property at this time,” the department said in a statement.
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin condemned the violence in a social media statement Saturday night.
“Our community is hurt, shaken and rightfully angry. So am I. There is no argument, no beef, no misunderstanding that can justify this level of senseless violence during a night of celebration,” Woodfin wrote.
Police asked anyone with video of the shooting to submit it to investigators. People submitting footage can remain anonymous, the department said.