Magic City Classic: One dead, eight injured after game ends

A shooting near the Magic City Classic in Birmingham, Alabama, killed one person and injured at least eight others on Saturday night. The incident disrupted the tailgating area associated with the largest historically Black college and university football game in the United States.

Birmingham Police Department officers arrived at the 400 block of Graymont Avenue at approximately 7:50 p.m. The department suspended all tailgating activities in the surrounding area immediately upon arrival. Investigators recovered multiple firearms from the scene. One individual was detained and transported to police headquarters for questioning.

As of early Sunday morning, medical staff reported that one victim remained in critical condition while the other seven were in stable condition. No police officers or first responders were injured during the response. The event serves as a major annual gathering for local and regional residents.

Police Chief Michael Pickett called the incident a senseless act of violence. He noted that the event is the largest in the city and places a heavy strain on personnel. Pickett said other law enforcement leaders offered support quickly.

“They are true heroes,” Pickett said. “Seeing the courage and resilience they displayed tonight.. that shows true courage, that shows the true dedication they have to actually saving lives. And I'm thankful that all of our police officers.. are able to go home to their families tonight.”

The police department has not announced a specific timeline for releasing further details. The next scheduled step involves a formal review of the investigation by city officials.