‘ALL options remain on the table’: Gov. Ivey issues statement on Montgomery mass shooting

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) — Alabama Governor Kay Ivey is speaking out following a mass shooting in Montgomery over the weekend.

The shooting happened late Saturday night when gunmen shot at each other in a crowded downtown nightlife district, according to Montgomery police. Two people were killed, 43-year-old Shalanda Williams and 17-year-old Jeremiah Morris, and 12 others were injured as a result.

As of Sunday afternoon, no one has been arrested in connection with the shooting. Seven of the victims are under the age of 20.

On Monday, Gov. Ivey released a statement condemning the shooting and stated “ALL options remain on the table” for creating a safer Montgomery.

“We — the state — have previously and continue to take steps to target the crime in Montgomery, which has ranged from us deploying our MACS Unit to passing new laws. Unfortunately, you can’t fix stupid. It is clear that to have a safe Montgomery, it is going to take more than these steps,” Ivey’s statement read in part.

Ivey went on to state she still feels “the need for the state to further intervene in Montgomery and to have an even greater role in leading public safety efforts in our Capital City.”

Read the full statement from Gov. Ivey below:

Alabamians lost their lives at the hands of thugs in downtown Montgomery this weekend. First and foremost, we pray for the loved ones of those lives taken from us, as well as those innocent people injured, including some still fighting for their lives.

With Montgomery Police Department officers a short distance away, shots were exchanged out over a crowded downtown Montgomery Saturday night. This simply should not be happening in our Capital City or anywhere in our state for that matter. Any and all involved must be held accountable and prosecuted to the fullest, and I will do everything in my power to make sure that happens.

We — the state — have previously and continue to take steps to target the crime in Montgomery, which has ranged from us deploying our MACS Unit to passing new laws. Unfortunately, you can’t fix stupid. It is clear that to have a safe Montgomery, it is going to take more than these steps.

Over the last day, I have had continued discussions on what more can be done. That discussion continues and a resolution will not happen overnight, but we will be taking a few additional immediate steps.

Ensuring safe communities is the number one priority for government at all levels — local, state and federal. And unfortunately, I still feel the need for the state to further intervene in Montgomery and to have an even greater role in leading public safety efforts in our Capital City.

With that said, we are beginning to take additional steps from the state level to deter crime in Montgomery. To start, in addition to our active MACS Unit, I have asked my ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor to extend the patrol area for our Capitol Troopers to include other key downtown areas. I will plan on asking the Legislature to support additional resources to allow our state law enforcement presence to be more effective in downtown Montgomery. We will also continue to discuss how we can work better with Montgomery city and county law enforcement to ensure zero tolerance for crime in Montgomery.

I am also asking my ABC Administrator Curtis Stewart to review our laws, expectations and requirements regarding entities who are licensed to sell alcohol – specifically those in highly populated and heavily traveled areas, as well as for special events, where the sale and consumption of alcohol is taking place after 5:00 p.m. within the city of Montgomery.

Let me be clear: All available state assets are being discussed, and ALL options remain on the table. Montgomery is a special place filled with history, great potential and a strong community of people. There is too much at stake here, and as a longtime resident of Montgomery myself, I cannot stand by and allow this to continue.