The Magic City Classic shooting left one person dead and eight wounded near Legion Field on Saturday night. Birmingham police now say they’ve charged a 17-year-old with murder. Police Chief Michael Pickett announced the arrest at a Monday evening news conference, WVTM reported. The gunfire came hours after Alabama A&M beat Alabama State 31-28 in the 85th Magic City Classic. City leaders say it had nothing to do with the game.
What Police Say Happened in the Magic City Classic Shooting
Officers responded at about 7:50 p.m. Saturday to the 400 block of Graymont Avenue West, near Legion Field, where they found multiple people shot, per TheGrio. Mayor Randall Woodfin later said there were two separate shootings, less than eight minutes apart. The first happened outside the stadium perimeter, beyond the tailgating area, and six people were shot. The second happened across the street near vendors, while responders were still arriving.
Nine people were shot in all. Police recovered multiple firearms at the scene, and no officers or first responders were hurt. Birmingham police suspended all Classic tailgating and told people to leave stadium property and stay away from Legion Field.
Chief Pickett called it a “senseless act of violence.” He praised officers who moved toward the gunfire. He also thanked agencies that helped, including the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, FBI Birmingham, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The Victim
The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office identified the man who died as 19-year-old Dre’Shawn Te’Verious Thomas of Birmingham, WBRC reported. Officials pronounced him dead at the scene. Thomas graduated from A.H. Parker High School this year. Birmingham City Schools said it was “deeply saddened” by his death.
Eight others suffered gunshot wounds. One was in critical condition and seven were stable as of Sunday, according to police. Authorities haven’t released the names of the wounded.
The Arrest
Police say the 17-year-old faces charges of murder and possession of a machine gun conversion device, WVTM reported. Officers took him into custody on 4th Court West as he ran from the area shortly after the shots. He’s in the Jefferson County Jail without bond. Woodfin said earlier that the teen had a gun with a Glock switch, WIAT reported. Because the suspect is a juvenile, HBCU Buzz isn’t naming him.
The case may not end there. Police believe several other people also took part, and Woodfin said more than one suspect is involved. The investigation is ongoing.
What City Leaders Said
Woodfin, an HBCU graduate himself, urged the community to demand accountability while protecting the Classic’s legacy. “It is more than a game,” he said. “It represents generations of history, generations of achievement, and generations of cultural pride.” He added that the city “will not allow one act of violence to overshadow 85 years of legacy.”
The mayor also said the shootings had “absolutely nothing to do with the Magic City Classic,” according to ABC 33/40, and he said the city will keep supporting the event. He called the arrest “a small step toward healing” for the victims’ families. Birmingham’s City Council issued a joint statement mourning the person killed and backing the families.
A Familiar Pattern
The violence follows other incidents tied to HBCU events this season. HBCU Buzz covered the Perry Street shooting that injured 12 people after FAMU’s homecoming game, where police later charged a 15-year-old. A man also died in an off-campus shooting after Delaware State’s homecoming, and Dover police arrested two people. ABC 33/40 noted that shootings have happened near Legion Field during earlier Classic weekends too.
SI’s Kyle Mosley wrote that the Birmingham shooting is another incident this season involving gun violence around an HBCU football event. “It has to stop,” he said. HBCU Sports columnist Chris Stevens has cautioned against painting HBCU events as inherently violent. Police and city officials in Birmingham stressed that this shooting happened outside the Classic’s events.
How to Help Investigators
Birmingham police are asking anyone who recorded video of either shooting to submit it through the department’s online evidence portal. People who submit footage can remain anonymous. Anyone with information can also call the Birmingham Police homicide unit at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
What We Don’t Know Yet
Police haven’t said what led to either shooting or how the two relate. They haven’t named the other people they believe took part, and they haven’t said whether the 17-year-old faces blame in both incidents. They also haven’t released details on the wounded.
HBCU Buzz will update this HBCU news story as more information comes out. The victims, their families, and the Alabama State University and Alabama A&M communities are in our thoughts after the Magic City Classic shooting.
