One person was killed, and eight others were injured in a mass shooting this weekend outside of Legion Field following the HBCU ‘Magic City Classic’ football game.
On Saturday, gunfire opened up near the stadium where the vendors were set up by Graymont Avenue. Chief of the Birmingham Police Department Michael Pickett said most people who attended the game and their families were out of the stadium when it happened.
Police spokesperson De’Rell Freeman confirmed that police detained a suspect. Police promptly sent the suspect to headquarters for questioning. Multiple weapons were reportedly found and obtained by the police.
Of the people who were injured, one is still in critical condition, according to Freeman. The other seven are stable.
In the press conference, Pickett called the shooting a “completely senseless act of violence” and said that he was “very grateful that more people weren’t injured.” An estimated 70,000 people were in attendance at the game.
The ‘Magic City Classic’ football game is between Alabama A&M and Alabama State. The game is recognized as one of the biggest HBCU matches and overall university match in the U.S. It has been played for more than 100 years and has been an annual tradition since 1945. It has been played at Legion Field since 1940.
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin said Saturday’s violence should not “overshadow 85 years of legacy” at the Magic City Classic. A 19-year-old was killed and eight others wounded in two shootings near Legion Field. https://t.co/sJbaPTqYxI
— AL.com (@aldotcom) November 2, 2026
“This is something that we not only just see here in Birmingham, but we see it all over the nation,” said Pickett about the shooting, per CBS News. “And it’s important that we, as a community, address this issue.”
In the U.S., as of this year, gun sales are up for the first time in six years with an estimated 10.6 million firearms sold these past nine months, according to The Trace. Approximately 9,790 people were killed this year at the hands of gun violence, with another 18,199 injured.
The deadliest day was reportedly July 5, when 88 people were shot and died due to their injuries.
Overall, since 1966, there have been 518 mass shootings in the U.S. This year marked a rise in mass shootings despite a decrease in overall shootings. In 2026, there were 354 mass shootings this year across the country. Compared to last year, there were 27 more mass shootings.
The Pew Research Center reports that the U.S. has significantly more gun deaths than any other country when absolute numbers are accounted for.
In 2023, the U.S. had 10,000 more total gun deaths than Brazil, the country with the second-highest gun deaths.
To address mass shootings, nonprofits such as the Center for American Progress are calling for significant reforms, including universal background checks.
