One killed and eight wounded in shooting outside Magic City Classic at Legion Field

One person was killed and eight others wounded in a shooting outside Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama, after the Magic City Classic on Saturday night, police said.

Alabama State and Alabama A&M, both historically Black universities and long-standing archrivals, met in their annual game that has been played for more than 100 years; nearly 70,000 fans attended Saturday’s contest, which Alabama A&M won 31-28. The Magic City Classic draws large crowds to Birmingham every year.

Michael Pickett, chief of the Birmingham Police Department, said most spectators and families had left stadium property after the game but the shooting occurred nearby where vendors were set up along Graymont Avenue. He said he was "very grateful that more people weren't injured." Pickett described the scale of the event and the strain it places on local resources.

Pickett added: "Everyone knows this is the largest event we have here in the city and it’s extremely taxing on our personnel," and said: "Other leaders in law enforcement recognize that and they quickly offered up support and we are grateful for that quick response."

The circumstances of the shooting were unclear, police said.

Police spokesperson De'Rell Freeman said one person had been detained and transported to police headquarters for questioning, and that "multiple weapons" had been found and secured.