A Saturday night street scene in Montgomery ended in carnage when rival gunmen opened fire into a packed downtown crowd, killing two people and wounding 12 others, according to police.

The shooting erupted around 11:30 p.m. near Bibb & Commerce, steps from tourist landmarks and the city’s nightlife district.

Police called it a “mass shooting event” and said multiple individuals drew weapons after one person was targeted.

Authorities identified the dead as Jeremiah Morris, 17, and Shalanda Williams, 43.

Of the 12 wounded, five were listed in life-threatening condition as of Sunday. The youngest victim is 16. At least two of the victims were armed, police said. No arrests have been announced.

Montgomery Police Chief James Graboys said the gunfire broke out with at least five officers in the immediate area, who ran toward the shots within seconds, he said.

The city announced reward of $50,000 and set up a tip email [email protected] to collect videos from bystanders as investigators comb surveillance footage with help from state and federal partners including ALEA, the U.S. Marshals, FBI and ATF.

Mayor Steven Reed and City Hall had aggressively “activated” downtown for HBCU Classic weekend with attractions and promotions including a temporary Ferris wheel and “Thrills Zone” with free rides along the riverfront and Friday night’s “MGM On Tap Biergarten” on Lower Dexter Avenue, marketed with “FREE” beer in City-promoted posts:

Those draws helped pack the entertainment district on a weekend that also featured the Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic, Alabama State University homecoming, and the Alabama National Fair.

Reed has made these marketing efforts a cornerstone of his administration while bragging about mid-year crime declines. But Saturday’s bloodshed showed once again how at risk the city remains to violent crime.

Even as the mayor points to declines this year, the numbers remain sobering.

Montgomery recorded 61 homicides in 2024. In the first half of 2025, the city still logged 32 homicides, versus 38 in the same period last year.

Meanwhile, state officials are losing patience with Montgomery’s hesitation to aggressively combat crime.

Among the federal and state officials who have issued their calls for prayer and expedient action include U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) and Katie Britt (R-Montgomery), Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth, and Attorney General Steve Marshall, and others.

Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.