HUNTSVILLE, AL – A student at Alabama A&M University was wounded during an exchange of gunfire with a campus police officer in a dormitory stairwell on Monday, as reported by local authorities. The incident occurred in a residential hall during a routine security check, and was swiftly brought under control.
The university confirmed that an officer-involved shooting took place at the Knight Complex on campus, resulting in one injury. The situation was promptly handled, mitigating any immediate threats while the investigation is ongoing.
Alabama A&M Police Chief, Montrez Payton, disclosed to local media that the officer, while patrolling the fifth floor of the complex, heard gunshots from a floor below. The officer and the student subsequently engaged in a shootout in the stairwell, with the student sustaining multiple gunshot wounds. The student was immediately rushed to the hospital, while the officer remained unharmed.
Further details about the shooting, the student, or the officer involved have not been released by state and campus authorities. The incident occurred as students were returning to the Huntsville campus following spring break.
One student expressed surprise at the incident, noting the unexpected violence shortly after students’ return from spring break. This incident marks the second shooting at the Knight Complex within a span of seven months. The previous shooting occurred in August, injuring two individuals involved in a dispute. Both suspects from the August incident were apprehended, and the incident was deemed an isolated event by the police.
The university, located in northern Alabama, hosts a student population of approximately 6,000.