Argument during Alabama-Texas A&M game led to fatal shooting
A squabble over the University of Alabama-Texas A&M college football game sparked a fatal shooting, police said.
The dispute late Saturday during Texas A&M’s stunning win over top-ranked Alabama came near the end of the thrilling upset, Bessemer police said.
Texas A&M's Seth Small (47) kicks a last-second field goal against Alabama for the win at the end of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in College Station, Texas
Two men who gathered to watch the much-hyped showdown started arguing over “which team was better,” prompting the homeowner to ask them to leave, police said in a statement.
“Once outside the residence, shots were fired,” Bessemer cops said.
Up to 10 people inside the home then ran outside to find Kealand Pickens, 27, of Bessemer, with several gunshot wounds to the torso. He was later pronounced dead at a hospital in Birmingham, police said.
The suspected shooter fled the scene before cops responded. Detectives know the man’s identity, but he was not in custody as of early Tuesday, Lt. Christian Clemons told The Post.
“We have identified our shooter and we’re looking to arrest him soon,” Clemons said.
It’s unclear which team Pickens was rooting for, according to Clemons, who said he couldn’t recall a recent fatality in Bessemer believed to be connected to college football.
“It is rare,” Clemons told The Post. “I’m trying to remember and I can’t remember a time when we had a death over a college football game.”
College football-associated assaults and violence have occurred in the past, but “nothing to this stature,” Clemons said.
“This is another case of people resorting to violence in order to resolve their differences,” Clemons said. “There’s better alternatives to solve your differences than resorting to violence.”
Clemons said the fatal shooting occurred toward the end of the game, which ended with a 28-yard field goal by Texas A&M, snapping the Crimson Tide’s winning streak at 19 games.
Alabama fell to No. 5 after the loss, while the Aggies are now at No. 21 in the latest college football rankings.
ADDENDUM: Texas A&M has been fined $100,000 by the Southeastern Conference for violating the policy on fans entering the field of play, it was announced Monday.
Aggies fans stormed Kyle Field in College Station after kicker Seth Small's 28-yard field goal sealed a 41-38 upset win over then-No. 1 Alabama on Saturday night. The kick split the uprights just as the clock hit zero and prompted an onslaught of fans to spill onto the field. (ESPN)
Pay the $100,000.00 It's worth it.
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