Teen charged with murder in Magic City Classic shootings

As of 8:24 a.m. ET, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026

A 17-year-old has been charged with murder and possession of a machine gun conversion device in two shootings near Birmingham's Legion Field after the Magic City Classic on Halloween night that killed one man and wounded eight other people, Birmingham police said.

Police Chief Michael Pickett announced at a news conference Monday night, Nov. 2, that the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office had formally charged the teen, WBRC and ABC News reported. Police have not identified the 17-year-old. The charges are accusations, and the teen is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

The teen was taken into custody with a gun fitted with a Glock conversion device, WBRC reported, citing police. Officers caught him in an alley off 4th Court West as he tried to run shortly after the shots were fired, police said.

Police identified the man who was killed as Dre'Shawn Thomas, 19. One of the wounded remained in critical condition Monday and seven others had injuries that were not life-threatening, police said, according to ABC News.

Two shootings, minutes apart

At a news conference Sunday afternoon, Mayor Randall Woodfin said the first shooting wounded six people outside the Legion Field perimeter and outside the tailgate area, WBRC reported. A second shooting less than eight minutes later, across the street from the stadium in the Graymont Avenue area where food vendors were set up, involved three victims, he said.

Birmingham Fire and Rescue Chief Cory Moon said the person who was killed was pronounced dead at the scene, and that two of the wounded were in critical condition and five were stable, according to WBRC. Moon said the victims ranged in age from 19 to 30.

Teen charged

Woodfin had said Sunday that the 17-year-old was being held on a 48-hour hold and that he was not the only suspect, WBRC reported. Police said the teen would be taken to the Jefferson County Jail and held without bond, ABC News reported.

Police said the first shooting happened shortly after 7:50 p.m. Saturday along Graymont Avenue and a second in the area of 3rd Street West and Graymont Avenue. Officers recovered multiple guns at the scene, police said.

"Because of your swift actions and your courage, so many other lives were saved," Pickett told officers and first responders, according to ABC News.

Investigators are still asking anyone with information or video to contact Birmingham police at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.

No officers or first responders were injured, police said. The department was assisted by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, the Vestavia Hills Police Department, FBI Birmingham, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and the U.S. Attorney's Office, according to WBRC.

Pickett called the shooting a "senseless act of violence" and praised officers who ran toward the gunfire. "Our Birmingham police officers are true heroes," he said.

"There is no argument, no beef, no misunderstanding that can justify this level of senseless violence during a night of celebration," Woodfin said in a statement Saturday night.

Police suspended all Magic City Classic tailgating Saturday night and told people to leave the stadium property. They have asked anyone with video from the scene to share it, saying submissions will remain anonymous.