A mass shooting occurred in downtown Montgomery, Alabama, on Saturday night, October 4, resulting in two fatalities and 12 injuries. Multiple gunmen opened fire on a crowd gathered near carnival attractions during a busy weekend in the city.
The shooting began around 11:30 p.m. at the intersection of Commerce and Bibb Streets in Montgomery’s entertainment district. Thousands had gathered for Alabama State University’s homecoming, the Alabama National Fair, and HBCU Classic Weekend. Montgomery Police Chief James Graboys identified the victims as 17-year-old Jeremiah Morris and 43-year-old Shalanda Williams, both from Montgomery.
Graboys explained at a press conference that the shootout started when an individual believed to be targeted was fired upon, prompting others in the crowd to draw weapons and start shooting. The police chief described the chaotic situation, noting that every weapon had to be accounted for and every piece of evidence processed.
Of the 12 injured, five sustained life-threatening injuries, while seven had non-life-threatening wounds. Seven of those injured were under the age of 20, with the youngest being 16. Police reported that at least two of the shooting victims were armed.
The shooting took place during one of Montgomery’s busiest weekends, following the Tuskegee University-Morehouse College rivalry football game at Cramton Bowl, about a mile from the scene. The city had also introduced a Ferris wheel and other attractions for the event. Mayor Steven Reed highlighted that the shooting was unrelated to the fair or other events, noting most victims were local residents.
Reed described the incident as stemming from a disagreement, labeling it as an act of poor judgment. Law enforcement officers from multiple agencies were nearby when the shooting occurred, some within 50 feet of the intersection.
Multiple weapons, described as semi-automatic firearms with high-capacity magazines, were recovered from the scene. Graboys emphasized that the shooters “could have walked away from this” but chose not to, stating, “a bullet, once fired, does not come back.”
No arrests had been made by Sunday afternoon, though several individuals were taken into investigative custody, including some who were armed. Authorities reviewed social media videos and asked anyone with video evidence to contact the police.
The investigation expanded to federal agencies, with local authorities working with U.S. Marshals, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Graboys stated that investigators were utilizing all resources to gather evidence and identify those involved.
Community leaders offered rewards for information leading to arrests. Reed initially pledged $20,000, in addition to a $5,000 reward through the Crime Stoppers tip line, with City Council President Cornelius Calhoun adding $25,000, totaling $50,000.
The shooting drew criticism from Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, who stated that Montgomery is in crisis and questioned city leadership’s response to violence. Reed defended the city’s efforts to combat violence and rejected what he called “sideline commentary” from state officials. He welcomed collaboration with the attorney general on state-level issues like bond reform and firearm permit requirements.
By early November 2025, five suspects had been arrested in connection with the shooting. The first, a juvenile, was taken into custody on October 10 and charged with capital murder, nine counts of first-degree assault, and three counts of second-degree assault.
On October 14, police arrested 19-year-old Dantavious McGhee on identical charges, followed by the October 17 arrest of 19-year-old Javorick Whiting, who was charged with attempted murder.
A fourth suspect, 21-year-old Kemontae Hood, was arrested on October 18 and faced the same charges as McGhee and the juvenile.
The fifth arrest occurred on November 7 when 22-year-old Ivan Floyd—also identified as Ivan Jarvis Floyd III—was charged with offenses, including possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and robbery, linked to an unrelated September 29 incident. Whiting was later released on a $60,000 bond on October 20, a decision criticized by the community.
Montgomery has recorded over 50 homicides so far this year, after 61 in 2024 and 75 in 2023. The incident happened two weeks after five people were killed in separate violent incidents in the city. Despite recent violence, Reed maintained that downtown Montgomery is not unsafe, attributing the shooting to reckless individuals making poor decisions.
