Alabama Mass Shooting: 2 Killed, 14 Injured

At least two people were killed, and a dozen others — including a child — were injured after gunfire erupted in a busy area of Alabama.

Police responded to a “mass shooting event” in downtown Montgomery at around 11:30 p.m. local time on Saturday, Oct. 4, Montgomery Police Department (MPD) Chief James Graboys said in a press conference live-streamed online, per WSFA 12 News.

Graboys confirmed that at least 14 people were struck in the incident, with two of the victims dying at the scene and three sustaining “life-threatening injuries." The remaining nine, he added, are not believed to have potentially fatal wounds.

An adult woman was among those killed, and at least one of the people who suffered life-threatening injuries is a child, MPD Lt. Tina McGriff confirmed to PEOPLE.

The victims' identities have not yet been shared publicly.

The incident took place during a busy time in the city, with a fair and other attractions set up to coincide with a football game between Tuskegee University and Morehouse College.

Police Chief Graboys said the incident was a “senseless act of violence.”

“I am going to state specifically that we will use every resource,” he added during the press conference, per WSFA 12 News. “We will do whatever we need to do. We will use every resource to charge and hold the people responsible who were involved in this offense.”

Describing the incident as “tragic and chaotic,” Graboys continued, “My heart is weeping for the families, and I am incredibly angry, because this was not a typical mass shooting that people read about."

“This was two parties that were involved that were shooting at each other in a crowd. I know enough to say that right now,” Graboys then said. “While I am limited in some of the information that I can release, I am releasing that because the people who did what they did, who are responsible for opening fire on each other like that, did not care about the people around them when they did it."

“Now we have 14 people wounded, shot, two of them deceased. We will not rest until we get you,” he concluded, adding that suspects are currently being interviewed in connection with the shooting.

Roads in the area where the shooting took place were closed, with traffic redirected amid the ongoing investigation, the MPD said on Facebook.

Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed praised law enforcement’s efforts in the investigation, stating during the press conference that pulling out a gun in a crowd of people is “reckless and selfish.”

“We are going to use every resource we have to bring all those involved in this to justice. Whether it's tonight, whether it's tomorrow, whether it's next week or whether it's next month, we won't rest," Reed said.

MPD Lt. McGriff said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE that authorities are getting leads from witness statements and surveillance footage.

"We are urging anyone with information related to this incident to come forward,” McGriff said in the statement. “Even the smallest detail could be critical to helping investigators identify those responsible."At least two people were killed, and a dozen others — including a child — were injured after gunfire erupted in a busy area of Alabama.

Police responded to a “mass shooting event” in downtown Montgomery at around 11:30 p.m. local time on Saturday, Oct. 4, Montgomery Police Department (MPD) Chief James Graboys said in a press conference live-streamed online, per WSFA 12 News.

Graboys confirmed that at least 14 people were struck in the incident, with two of the victims dying at the scene and three sustaining “life-threatening injuries." The remaining nine, he added, are not believed to have potentially fatal wounds.

An adult woman was among those killed, and at least one of the people who suffered life-threatening injuries is a child, MPD Lt. Tina McGriff confirmed to PEOPLE.

The victims' identities have not yet been shared publicly.

The incident took place during a busy time in the city, with a fair and other attractions set up to coincide with a football game between Tuskegee University and Morehouse College.

Police Chief Graboys said the incident was a “senseless act of violence.”

“I am going to state specifically that we will use every resource,” he added during the press conference, per WSFA 12 News. “We will do whatever we need to do. We will use every resource to charge and hold the people responsible who were involved in this offense.”

Describing the incident as “tragic and chaotic,” Graboys continued, “My heart is weeping for the families, and I am incredibly angry, because this was not a typical mass shooting that people read about."

“This was two parties that were involved that were shooting at each other in a crowd. I know enough to say that right now,” Graboys then said. “While I am limited in some of the information that I can release, I am releasing that because the people who did what they did, who are responsible for opening fire on each other like that, did not care about the people around them when they did it."

“Now we have 14 people wounded, shot, two of them deceased. We will not rest until we get you,” he concluded, adding that suspects are currently being interviewed in connection with the shooting.

Roads in the area where the shooting took place were closed, with traffic redirected amid the ongoing investigation, the MPD said on Facebook.

Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed praised law enforcement’s efforts in the investigation, stating during the press conference that pulling out a gun in a crowd of people is “reckless and selfish.”

“We are going to use every resource we have to bring all those involved in this to justice. Whether it's tonight, whether it's tomorrow, whether it's next week or whether it's next month, we won't rest," Reed said.

MPD Lt. McGriff said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE that authorities are getting leads from witness statements and surveillance footage.

"We are urging anyone with information related to this incident to come forward,” McGriff said in the statement. “Even the smallest detail could be critical to helping investigators identify those responsible."