A night meant to celebrate one of the biggest rivalries in Black college football turned deadly in Birmingham, Alabama. Gunfire erupted near Legion Field on Saturday evening as crowds were still tailgating after the Magic City Classic. One person was killed and eight others were shot.

Birmingham police were called to the 400 block of Graymont Avenue West at about 7:50 p.m. local time. Officers found several people with gunshot wounds and held the area so fire and rescue crews could reach them. By early Sunday police said one of the wounded was in critical condition while seven others were stable.

The annual game between Alabama A&M and Alabama State had ended more than an hour earlier. The Classic is the largest single event on the city calendar and routinely pulls more than 100,000 people to the stadium and the lots around it for a full day of music, food and family reunions.

One person questioned

Officers recovered several guns at the scene. One person was detained and taken to police headquarters to be questioned, but no charges had been announced by Sunday morning. Police have not released the names of the victims or said what set off the shooting. All tailgating around the stadium was shut down for the rest of the night and fans were told to clear the property.

Police Chief Michael Pickett described the bloodshed as senseless. He praised his officers for sprinting toward the shots while stopping to check on people they passed along the way. No officers or first responders were hurt. The FBI, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Vestavia Hills police, state troopers and federal prosecutors all sent help.

Mayor vows justice

Mayor Randall Woodfin said the city was hurt and angry. He said no dispute could ever justify violence at a celebration rooted in HBCU tradition and family. He promised the people responsible would be held to account and said Birmingham would not let fear take the event away from its community.

The shooting came exactly one week after gunfire near Florida A&M's homecoming in Tallahassee wounded 11 people. Detectives are asking anyone with video from Saturday night to share it. Tips can be sent anonymously to Birmingham police detectives at 205-254-1764 or to Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.