WASHINGTON — During a Senate oversight hearing with Attorney General Pam Bondi Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Katie Britt called Saturday’s downtown Montgomery shooting “horrific” and asked what can be done to combat violent crime.
On Tuesday, Montgomery Police said no arrests have been made in the shooting that left two individuals dead and 12 others injured. Police said they have identified multiple persons of interest.
“Montgomery is the place I raise my children, it’s a community that I love, and to see senseless acts of violence occur is gut wrenching,” Britt told Alabama Daily News. “I think we should all be asking the question of, ‘what can we do?’…to prevent events like that from happening again.”
The Alabama Republican asked that question of Bondi during Tuesday’s oversight hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
“I’d like to know a little bit about your interagency work…because we have to find solutions in this space,” Britt said. “This cannot keep happening.”
Bondi didn’t offer specifics, but she said she gets frequent updates from the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and other relevant law enforcement agencies.
“We are working nonstop to combat crime,” Bondi said. “That’s Donald Trump’s only directive to me is to make America safe again.”
She added that the federal government shutdown has made it more difficult, but said agents continue to work despite the funding lapse.
U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who is running for Alabama governor, said he was “deeply disturbed” by the capital city shooting.
“Crime has become too common in Montgomery, and this cannot continue,” Tuberville said in a post on X Sunday. “It’s past time for city leadership to take responsibility and put an end to this.”
This image taken from video provided by WSFA shows the scene after a shooting earlier Saturday in downtown Montgomery, Ala., Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (WSFA via AP)
Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed said the city is using all available local, state and federal resources to bring “closure” to the case and the “capture of those who are responsible.”
“We will push for maximum accountability regardless of how long this takes,” Reed said during a Tuesday press conference.
As President Donald Trump works to deploy National Guard troops to cities across the country to combat crime, Reed said bringing troops to Montgomery “is not necessary.” The mayor said there are ways to invest in more resources to help people before they commit crimes, such as through mental health support, education or workforce development.
Montgomery Police Chief James Graboys said there were multiple gunmen involved in Saturday’s shooting and expects multiple individuals will face charges. He called for “unity” as the department continued its investigation.
The five people who suffered life-threatening injuries and seven people who suffered non-life-threatening injuries remained the same classification as of Tuesday afternoon, Graboys said.
On Monday, Gov. Kay Ivey said she would offer state assistance to help patrol downtown, saying “ALL options remain on the table” to address crime in the capital city.
The Alabama Democratic Party called for more gun control reform in the wake of the weekend shooting.
“Alabama should roll back permit less carry so that if officers see a gun, they can engage in verification tactics by lawfully engaging the carrier of that weapon and make arrests for criminal intent,” Chairman Randy Kelley said in a statement Tuesday.
Read more at aldaileynews.com.
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