WRBL
by: Carey Cox
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson says the continuing trend of violence in the city must be stopped, specifically noting violence among young people.
On Friday, Oct. 15, shots were fired at Ladd-Peebles Stadium during a football game between Vigor High School and Williamson High School. Five people were injured. 19-year-old Jai Montrell Scott turned himself in to police and was charged with five counts of attempted murder on Saturday, Oct. 16. On Monday, Oct. 18, a 17-year-old juvenile was arrested and also charged with five counts of attempted murder. As of Monday, Oct. 18, police are searching for a third suspect, identified as Hezekiah Kaniel Belfon, in connection to the shooting.
Stimpson released a statement on Monday, Oct. 18, assuring Mobile residents those responsible will be held accountable. Read his full statement below:
Like many of you, I was outraged and saddened by the shooting that occurred during a high school football game at Ladd-Peebles Stadium this past Friday evening. This continuing trend of violence in our community, especially among young people, must stop. The Mobile Police Department has already made two arrests in connection to this incident. They have identified and are actively seeking a third suspect. I can assure you; our officers will track down all those responsible for Friday’s shooting and hold them accountable. Our thoughts and prayers remain with those injured in this thoughtless act of violence.
We will also be utilizing the resources of the Gulf Coast Technology Center, which is composed of 42 federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, to ensure the security at future high school football games at Ladd–Peebles. I have charged the Mobile Police Department and the officers of the GCTC with assessing current security protocols at Ladd and where they failed. They will also be looking into what immediate steps need to be taken to improve stadium security and the long-term solutions needed to prevent individuals from bringing weapons into these kinds of events.
In 2019, nine people were injured in a shooting at the same stadium during a football game between Leflore High School and Williamson High School.
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AUBURN, Ala (WRBL) – Auburn High School’s Junior Varsity football team is teeing up to make history Wednesday night as the Tigers take on Lagrange High School. If the team’s sophomore kicker can place it between the goalposts, she’ll become the first girl to score in Auburn High School football history.
Ellie Rodning was five years old when she started playing soccer. She’s a defender on Auburn’s JV soccer team. In March of 2020, she had ACL surgery. The surgery, plus rehab, sidelined her for most of the 2021 football season. However, Rodning was cleared to kick three weeks ago and has been practicing non-stop.
MERIWETHER COUNTY, Ga. (WRBL) — The parents of 18-year-old Ryan “Taylor” Wright II are searching for answers after their son was shot and killed in Manchester, Georgia.
On July 18, Wright was shot on the intersection of Triggville St. and Ted Anderson Dr. The Talbot County teen was pronounced dead at 2 a.m. and his cause of death was a gunshot wound of the neck and torso. Wright’s death was ruled a homicide, and now his family is looking for closure.
ST. LOUIS (KTVI) – Low water levels on the Mississippi River have exposed the USS Inaugural near downtown St. Louis.
The USS Inaugural, a World War II minesweeper, used to be a National Historic Landmark and was open for tours. The ship was once moored in St. Louis, but it broke free in 1993 as the river reached its historic crest of 49.58 feet. The river was at 3.85 feet and falling when the ship was spotted Tuesday.