One Dead and Eight Wounded in Shooting After Magic City Classic in Birmingham

One person was killed and eight others wounded in a shooting near Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama, on Saturday night, October 31, 2026, after the Magic City Classic college football game.

Birmingham Police Department officers responded at approximately 7:50 p.m. to the 400 block of Graymont Avenue West. They located multiple gunshot victims. One person was pronounced dead. Another remained in critical condition early Sunday; seven others were listed as stable. Multiple firearms were recovered at the scene. One person was detained and taken to police headquarters for questioning. No arrests had been announced by Sunday afternoon.

The Magic City Classic is the annual rivalry game between Alabama A&M University and Alabama State University, the state's two largest historically Black universities. The game was played at Legion Field. Tailgating was suspended after the shooting, according to the police department.

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin described the incident as senseless violence. "Our community is hurt, shaken and rightfully angry. So am I," he said in a statement. He noted that the event was meant to bring people together in celebration.

The violence occurred one week after a mass shooting near Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, where shots fired during a fight wounded 11 people, including six juveniles. That incident also involved an HBCU campus event.

Police have not released the names of the victims or the detained individual. The investigation continues. Officers secured the area and collected evidence through the night. No motive has been stated publicly.

The Magic City Classic draws large crowds each year. Saturday's game proceeded as scheduled before the shooting outside the stadium. The suspension of remaining tailgating activities was ordered to prevent further incidents.

As of Sunday, hospitals in Birmingham continued to treat the wounded. The critical patient remained under care. Community leaders and university officials had not yet issued further joint statements beyond the mayor's remarks. The immediate focus remains identifying those involved and determining whether the shooting was connected to any prior dispute among spectators or participants in the post-game gathering.