TUSCALOOSA, AL — One person has been arrested and investigators are searching for multiple others following Saturday night's mass shooting in west Tuscaloosa, which authorities now believe may have involved gang activity.
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Captain Jack Kennedy, commander of the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit, announced Monday afternoon that 23-year-old Keyontae Jones has been taken into custody in connection with the shooting.
Kennedy said Jones was initially charged with eight counts of first-degree assault and was being held without bond pending a hearing. However, Kennedy said investigators determined that one person who claimed to have been shot during the incident was not actually present when the shooting occurred.
Kennedy said authorities have opened a separate investigation into why the person made the false report.
As a result, Kennedy said investigators will seek to dismiss one of the eight assault counts against Jones, leaving him facing seven counts related to the seven people authorities now say were actually injured.
The development marks another change in the victim count since the shooting, which Patch previously reported occurred during a large neighborhood gathering known as the "Shacktown Reunion" in west Tuscaloosa.
Kennedy said as many as 1,000 people may have attended the gathering at different points during the evening.
The seven confirmed victims are ages 12, 14, 17, 17, 18, 20 and 40.
Two of the victims — ages 12 and 17 — remained hospitalized Monday after initially suffering critical injuries but were listed in stable condition.
Kennedy said investigators currently believe the shooting may have involved gang activity, with one group encountering or seeking out another group before gunfire erupted in the crowded public space.
Kennedy said Jones was present and "engaged in gunfire," but investigators are still working to determine the full circumstances surrounding the shooting.
The shooting occurred late Saturday during the Shacktown Reunion, a neighborhood block party in an area historically known by that name. Kennedy said the gathering itself does not appear to have been the reason for the shooting.
Kennedy said a Tuscaloosa Police officer was in the immediate area when the shooting began and responded within seconds, prompting a large response from local and surrounding law enforcement agencies.
He then described an extensive crime scene spanning multiple city blocks. The investigation has since expanded to include assistance from TPD's Cyber Unit and SWAT team, U.S. Marshals and FBI task forces, along with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Metro Area Crime Center.
FBI Birmingham Assistant Special Agent in Charge DeAnn Castillo said Monday that the FBI joined the investigation at the request of the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit, which remains the lead investigative agency.
Castillo also announced that the FBI is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the location, arrest and conviction of those responsible for the shooting.
The FBI previously established a digital media tip line where witnesses and others can submit photographs, cellphone videos, social media content and other digital evidence from the scene.
"Sometimes we face hesitancy in the communities," Castillo said. "People fear retaliation. But without their support, we're never going to clean up these streets."
Kennedy also stressed the scale and complexity of the investigation, saying authorities are continuing to identify and interview witnesses and people of interest from among the hundreds of people who attended the gathering.
"We ask anyone that was present, that saw any of this incident or was involved in any of this incident as a victim or witness, to please come forward and contact us," Kennedy said.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Those with any information, photos or video from the area are asked to contact the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit at (205) 464-8690 or Crime Stoppers at (205) 752-STOP (7867).
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