One teen killed, eight hurt in Birmingham stadium shootings
Senator Tommy Tuberville pledged maximum sentences for the attackers ahead of Tuesday's gubernatorial vote.
By Yuna Patel ·
One teenager died and eight others were injured in two separate shootings near Legion Field in Birmingham on Saturday night. The violence occurred hours after Alabama A&M University defeated Alabama State University 31-28 in the Magic City Classic.
U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville, the Republican nominee for governor, responded to the incident over the weekend. He said he and his wife are praying for those involved. Tuberville promised that if elected, he would maintain constant communication with local, state, and federal law enforcement to identify the shooters. He stated his goal is to secure maximum sentences for the criminals.
Tuberville addressed the role of the judicial system in his statement. He said judges and prosecutors would be held accountable to prevent criminals from walking out of prison. He warned that offenders would fear the consequences of hurting Alabamians, or else the people protecting those criminals would face the fear.
The first shooting took place around 8 p.m. in the tailgate area outside the stadium. Six people were wounded in that attack. Less than eight minutes later, three more people were shot across the street on Graymont Avenue.
Dre' Shawn Thomas, a 2026 graduate of Parker High School, was pronounced dead at the scene. One other victim remains in critical condition. Birmingham police have taken a 17-year-old into custody. Officers found the suspect with a firearm fitted with a Glock conversion switch, which allows a semi-automatic pistol to fire fully automatically. No charges have been filed yet, and police have not confirmed if the two shootings are linked.
Multiple agencies assisted Birmingham police during the response, including the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the FBI's Birmingham field office, and the U.S. Attorney's Office. Mayor Randall Woodfin described the violence as senseless. Police Chief Michael Pickett praised officers who ran toward the gunfire to reach victims.
Tuberville faces Democrat Doug Jones in Tuesday's general election. Polls are set to open at 7 a.m.
Source: Yellowhammer News
