Montgomery City officials said officers responded at about 11:31 p.m. last night to reports of gunfire near Bibb and Commerce streets; 14 people were shot and two were killed, the city’s mayor and the police chief said at a news conference.

Police Chief (unnamed) told reporters investigators have identified 14 confirmed victims, including two who died: 17-year-old Jeremiah Morris and 43-year-old Shalanda Williams. Five victims have life-threatening injuries and seven have non-life-threatening injuries, the chief said. The youngest victim is 16.

The chief said investigators recovered multiple shell casings and multiple weapons at the scene and that multiple calibers were used. He said at least two of the people shot had been armed. The chief said the shooting began when one person who was believed to have been targeted exchanged gunfire; the situation escalated as additional people in the crowd drew weapons and fired.

Officials said Montgomery Police are working with the ATF, FBI, the U.S. attorney’s office, U.S. Marshals, the Alabama Fusion Center, the Montgomery County District Attorney’s office and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities asked anyone with video or other information to contact Crime Stoppers at (334) 215-7867 or to email starcenter@montgomeryal.gov. Crime Stoppers had posted a $5,000 reward; city officials said the mayor added funds and the city council matched an amount to bring the total reward to $50,000.

Mayor (unnamed) and the police chief stressed that the shooting was not connected to scheduled events — officials named the Alabama State University homecoming, the state fair and the Morehouse–Tuskegee Classic as large gatherings in the city over the weekend — and said the location was a local establishment not affiliated with those events. The mayor and chief said that although thousands of people were in town for weekend events, the investigation shows the incident stemmed from a targeted exchange that then drew others into violence.

The mayor said the city will “leverage all the resources and all the partnerships we have” and that the response includes considering ordinance or legislative changes where appropriate. He said the city would pursue changes to bail-and-bond practices or other laws if needed, and invited state officials to help with solutions such as bail-and-bond reform or policies related to permitless carry, while making clear he would not tolerate speculation that could compromise the investigation.

Officials also announced immediate trauma-response resources. The Office of Violence Prevention will establish on-site trauma support at Sheridan Heights North Montgomery Community Center (councilmember Marsha Johnson’s district); officials announced an initial on-site shift and said they would extend funding to provide ongoing mental-health support for directly and indirectly affected residents and first responders.

Police said they are continuing to review extensive video footage from downtown cameras and private devices and are interviewing multiple subjects. The chief asked the public to provide tips and video and warned that investigators would not release details that could compromise prosecutions but that every available resource was in use.

At the close of the briefing the mayor urged witnesses to come forward for reasons beyond reward money, and said the city would pursue the case “all the way through.” He said if current measures do not produce results within 24 to 48 hours they would change tactics.

The city identified media contacts for further information as Lieutenant McGriff (police information officer) and Miguel (city communications). The mayor and chief said they would continue to provide updates through formal briefings and city social media channels.