Cooler fall weather returns to central and south Alabama this weekend. It was noticeable Friday morning, with lows temperatures near 60° in many locations. Temperatures were still in the low to mid 70s at midday, with significantly lower humidity than 24 hours prior. A brisk east to northeast wind continues for the rest of the day, with gusts over 20 mph at times. Friday night remains a bit breezy, with a clear sky and lows in the mid to upper 50s.
ACTION 8 UPDATE: Montgomery police have charged a suspect in connection with the October 4 mass shooting that resulted in the deaths of 43-year-old Shalanda Williams and 17-year-old Jeremiah Morris, 17, and left twelve others injured, some critically.
Police say they’ve charged a juvenile male with one count of capital murder, nine counts of assault in the first degree and three counts of assault in the second degree. The juvenile was taken into custody today and booked into the Montgomery County Detention Facility.
His name and age haven’t been released.
As Action 8 News has reported, the shooting happened in a crowded area at around 11:30PM Saturday, October 4, in the area around Bibb and Commerce streets, in the heart of the city’s tourist area where many events had taken place throughout the day.
Of the 12 injured, five have life-threatening injuries. Seven are under the age of 20, with the youngest being 16 years old.
Morris was pronounced dead at the scene, while Williams died at a hospital.
Additional arrests are anticipated as the investigation continues.
If you have information regarding the mass shooting, call CrimeStoppers at (334) 215-STOP. You can remain anonymous.
A student has been arrested on a charge of making a terrorist threat against Booker T. Washington High School in Tuskegee.
Macon County Sheriff Andre Brunson confirmed to Action 8 news that the 15-year-old student was placed under arrest this morning.
Brunson says the student had been suspended from the school the previous day.
The student’s name hasn’t been released.
The number of cases of the highly contagious hand, foot and mouth disease is on the rise in the Selma-Dallas County area.
Doctors say it’s a common childhood disease caused by viruses.
Symptoms may include fever, skin rashes on the hands and feet and painful mouth sores.
“It’s typically found in children although adults can get it as well,” Dr. Ephraim Canngay of the UAB Selma Family Medicine Clinic told Action 8 News. “I can’t stress this enough, hand washing — hand washing — hand washing, is the key to prevent yourself from getting it, or if you get it, to spread it to other people. Usually it passes within a week, maybe a little bit longer than that. And the vast majority of cases do not require hospitalization.”
Doctors say if you or your child is experiencing symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease, contact a physician immediately.
As Action 8 News has reported, last month, Life Academy, a charter school in Montgomery, closed temporarily following several cases of the disease.
Celebrate the 32nd Annual Cotton Festival in Eclectic this weekend, or take part in plenty of other fun events happening across the River Region!
The Cotton Festival takes place in downtown Eclectic, with all kinds of activities for the whole family.
In Montgomery, get a taste of the Latino Food Festival.
Joy to Life is hosting a breast cancer awareness event in Wetumpka.
There’s a fishing tournament taking place, with a special meaning behind it.
“Murder on the Orient Express” is being performed at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival.
The Build Your Own Boat competition is happening at Montgomery Whitewater.
Get details on these and other events by watching the video above from Action 8’s Savanna Sabb.
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office has hosted a Faith and Blue Prayer Service at First Baptist Church on Perry Street.
The Beacon Center has held a retreat for first responders to help them relax after the violent weekend in Montgomery.
First United Methodist Church in Montgomery partnered with the Beacon Center to give responders a time to rest, reflect and restore at the healing space yesterday.
They say they wanted to provide an environment for an uplifting experience of gratitude, connection and healing through drum circle art, yoga and meditation, and therapy sessions.
They also provided a meal and circle of affirmation to leave them refreshed and renewed.
“Our first responders are seeing so much, and it’s not just about the events that happened this weekend, it’s really about the community violence that exists day-to-day, and so what we know as we see a bubbling that has happened from this weekend but we understand that our responders need a space every single day,” Beacon Center Executive Director Richard Williams told Action 8 News.
“I like for those who attend to walk away with a sense of God’s grace and comfort that these reminders, each module, each workshop that is offered a reminder that the worst things in life are never the last things, and God is always faithful and true and the church is a place truly of sanctuary,” Rev. Jay Cooper, the senior minister at First United Methodist Church, said.
The event was open to responders, caregivers, and community leaders. For more information, contact the Beacon Center at (334) 263-0950.
A mass shooting took place on the night of Saturday, October 4, at the corner of Bibb and Commerce Streets. Two people were killed and 12 others were injured, some seriously.
Lifesouth has opened a second community blood center in Montgomery.
The new location is at Taylor Junction, which is at the corner of Taylor Road and Atlanta Highway. It joins Lifesouth’s first location on Carmichael Road near Perry Hill Road.
The new blood center will make it easier for people on the east side of Montgomery to donate.
“It adds a resource to our ability to collect donors. So, it makes our job easier when we have more donors because we have more blood products for the hospital,” Lifesouth Vice President of Operations Sharon Carpenter told Action 8 News.
Besides the two Montgomery locations, Lifesouth also has a blood center in Prattville.
Heather and Dan Campbell, in Montgomery, Ala., Oct. 2024. (Heather Campbell via AP)
Heather Campbell lost her job over the summer because of federal funding cuts. Her husband serves as an officer at Maxwell Air Force Base, but now he’s facing the prospect of missing his next paycheck because of the government shutdown.
If lawmakers in Washington don’t step in, Campbell’s husband Dan won’t get paid on Wednesday. Because the couple lacks the savings to cover all their expenses, they expect to survive on credit cards to pay the mortgage and feed their three children, racking up debt as the political stalemate drags on.
“You’re asking us to put our lives on the line or the people we love to put their lives on the line,” Heather Campbell said. “And you’re not even going to give us our paycheck. What? There is a lot of broken trust there.”
The nation’s third shutdown in 12 years is once again raising anxiety levels among service members and their families because those in uniform are working without pay. While they would receive back pay once the impasse ends, many military families live paycheck to paycheck. During previous shutdowns, Congress passed legislation to ensure that troops kept earning their salaries, but time is running out before they miss their first paycheck in less than a week.
When asked if he would support a bill to pay the troops, President Trump said, “That probably will happen. We’ll take care of it. Our military is always going to be taken care of,” he said this week.
The House is closed for business until next week, leaving two days to take action before Wednesday’s payday. Missed paychecks for military service members are among the most serious pressure points in the shutdown, causing political pain for the lawmakers. Several proposals have been floated for voting on stand-alone legislation that would ensure no interruption in pay, but those are not expected to be brought up for consideration, for now.
Support is available for military families through nonprofits and charities. For example, some financial institutions are offering zero-interest loans, while each military branch has a relief organization.
But Campbell said she and her husband can’t apply for a payday loan because they’re refinancing their house. They lack a substantial emergency fund because they were paying off student loans and moved several times in the last few years to military posts. It was often challenging for her to find steady work and child care.
“The opportunity to build up savings is really difficult on just one income,” Campbell said. “I don’t know many military families that have a month’s worth of income set aside just in case, let alone multiple months’ worth.”
(Copyright 2025 The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
Millbrook police are investigating a four-vehicle crash that left three people dead and two others injured.
Police chief P.K. Johnson said the crash happened at about 6:13PM last night on Alabama Highway 14, between Kinsley Lane
and Oak Tree Road. That is near the 17 Springs recreation complex.
Johnson said an off-duty law enforcement officer and passersby got the two injured people out of their vehicles and were administering CPR as law enforcement and fire personnel arrived.
One of the two people injured is in critical condition.
Those who were killed are listed as:
- Anthony L. Smith, a 33-year-old Demopolis resident
- Diane E. Smith, a 65-year-old resident of Indiana
- Mary F. Ford, a 60-year-old resident of Millbrook
The scene was turned over to the Millbrook Police Department’s Traffic Homicide Unit for investigation.
Johnson said the police department has video of the wreck, which was captured by another driver whose vehicle is equipped
with a dash-mounted video camera.
Johnson said based on video and witness statements, it appears that one of the vehicles involved was travelling west on Highway 14 and suddenly veered into oncoming traffic, hitting a vehicle travelling east, which overturned, and collided with two
additional vehicles.
Johnson said his department’s thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. He said anytime that a tragedy such as this occurs, there are those who speculate as to the cause of such events, with some offering opinions and perceived solutions. Unfortunately, much of this occurs on social media, with little or no thought process as to who may view this material. He asks the public to consider this before posting photographs of the scene or their opinions out of respect and consideration for the victims and their family members who are attempting to process this tragedy.
