Montgomery, Alabama (August 2018) — A mass shooting that killed two people Gov. Kay Ivy said Monday that the state will play a bigger role in security measures in the capital in the incident that occurred in downtown Montgomery, Alabama, and injured more than a dozen more people.
The fatal shooting occurred around 11:31pm on Saturday in a busy downtown area of the city, filled with bars, hotels and restaurants. The location is less than 1.6 km (1 mile) from the Alabama State Capitol and is close to a place that pays homage to Rosa Parks and other important figures in the city’s history.
Montgomery Police Chief James Graboys said he believes one of the 14 victims was targeted and the shooting took place in a crowded area. He said that others then pulled out their guns and began firing.
“As you can imagine, it can be a very confusing situation,” Graboys said Sunday. The police chief said seven of the 14 victims were under the age of 20.
Republican Ivy said he is considering ways to deal with the shooting. She said, for starters, Capitol police officers will expand their patrol zones to include other major downtown areas. The governor also said he asked the Alabama legislature to approve additional resources for downtown’s state law enforcement.
“To be clear, all the state assets available are being discussed and all options are still under consideration,” Ivy said in a written statement issued Monday morning. “Montgomery is a special place filled with history, great potential and a strong community of people.”
“Alabamas lost their lives this weekend in downtown Montgomery,” Ivy said. The governor noted that the state had previously set up a multi-agency task force. To deal with crime Located in downtown Montgomery.
“Unfortunately, we can’t fix the fools. It’s clear that we’ll need more than these measures to make Montgomery safe,” Ivy said.
No arrests have been announced as of Monday morning.
Montgomery Mayor Stephen L. Reid said in response to Ivy that the city welcomed state assistance, but also said loose state gun controls are “robbing officers of important tools.”
Alabama abolished the qualification requirements in 2023. Concealed handguns allowed In public. Last year, Reed and city officials called for the enactment of a city ordinance requiring anyone with concealed firearms to carry photo IDs. The initiative was abandoned amid concerns about a loss of national funds.
“We welcome any support the nation willing to provide, but true safety requires more than extra troops and task forces. It takes courage to stand up to a culture where guns are easy to get and gun owners lack responsibility,” Reed said.
Reed said there were five officers nearby when the shooting occurred, one of whom was within 50 feet (15 meters) of the shooting.
