Juvenile Suspect Surrenders After Drive-By Shooting Injures Four Teens Outside Gadsden Waffle House
- The Weekly Ledger
- 2 days ago
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Gunfire erupted following Friday night football game; four victims reported in stable condition
TWLN Staff Writer | The Weekly Ledger News | Area News | Monday, August 24, 2026
GADSDEN, Ala. — A juvenile suspect is in custody after surrendering to authorities in connection with a drive-by shooting that left four teenagers injured outside a Gadsden Waffle House following Friday night’s high school football game.
Gadsden Mayor Craig Ford announced Sunday afternoon that the juvenile, accompanied by an attorney, had turned himself in to the Gadsden Police Department following an intensive weekend investigation.
Because the suspect is a juvenile, authorities are limited in the information they can publicly release, and the suspect’s identity has not been disclosed.
“I want to let everybody know the individual had turned himself in based on the pressure from our Gadsden Police Department, and I want to thank them for everything they have done,” Ford said in a Sunday update. “They’ve done an outstanding job.”
Ford said the case would now move through the appropriate authorities and judicial process.
Four Teens Injured Following Friday Night Football
The shooting occurred at approximately 10:45 p.m. Friday, August 21, at the Waffle House located at 1000 Rainbow Drive.
The gunfire erupted following the Gadsden City-Oxford high school football game, at a time when students, families, and other football fans were gathered in the area.
Four teenagers were injured in the shooting. Emergency personnel treated the victims at the scene before transporting them for additional medical care. Ford said all four were in stable condition.
Gadsden Police, Gadsden firefighters, EMS personnel, and LifeFlight crews responded to what Ford described as a chaotic scene.
Ford praised first responders for quickly securing the area, assisting the injured and beginning the investigation.
“From the moment officers arrived, they worked to protect those at the scene, secure evidence, identify witnesses, and begin the process of holding those responsible accountable,” Gadsden Police said in a statement.
Detectives and crime scene investigators continued working throughout the night and into the weekend as authorities sought those believed to be connected to the shooting.
Police credited patrol officers, Criminal Investigations Division detectives, forensic scientists, a local task force, neighboring law enforcement agencies, and other partners for their work during the investigation.
Mayor Says Shooting Followed Earlier Conflict
Ford has said the shooting appeared to stem from an earlier altercation involving a student who had recently transferred into the Gadsden City school system.
In comments to ABC 33/40, Ford said the student had reportedly been involved in a fight at school and later attended Friday night’s football game, where additional conflict occurred.
Ford previously emphasized that the suspected shooter was not a Gadsden City High School student.
Police have not publicly released a detailed account of what investigators believe led to the shooting, and the case remains under investigation.
Gadsden City Schools Responds
Gadsden City Schools Superintendent Keith Blackwell issued a statement following the shooting, emphasizing that although the incident occurred away from school property and outside school hours, the safety and well-being of students remains a priority for the district.
“Although the incident happened off campus and after hours, our student safety is always a priority for us,” Blackwell said. “We are relieved that the injuries are non-life-threatening, and we hope for a speedy recovery for both our students and families. Our Gadsden community always stays strong together.”
Blackwell said the school system is also cooperating with authorities as the investigation continues.
“We are working with our local law enforcement officers as they continue their investigation and providing as much assistance as we can,” Blackwell said.
Person Sought for Questioning Located
During the investigation, Gadsden Police also sought Shandreke Gill for questioning to determine what information she may have had concerning the incident.
Police later announced that Gill had been located, interviewed by detectives, and that no further assistance from the public was needed in locating her.
Authorities did not identify Gill as the suspect taken into custody.
Witnesses Describe Terrifying Moments
Witness accounts described a frightening scene as gunfire erupted outside the restaurant and customers scrambled for cover.
Josh Dodd, who said he was inside the Waffle House when the shooting occurred, shared an account on Facebook describing the moment a restaurant employee yelled for everyone to get down as glass shattered and children began screaming.
Dodd said he went outside following the gunfire and discovered that a young woman had been shot in the parking lot. He and a Waffle House employee stayed with her until first responders arrived while another individual checked on other shooting victims.
Dodd later reflected on the impact of seeing children forced to take cover inside a restaurant after a Friday night football game.
“Those screams tonight will stick with me,” Dodd wrote. “The sound of that glass shattering will stick with me.”
Another witness, Trease C. Embery, reported that bullets struck two vehicles near the neighboring McDonald’s after her family had left Oxford’s football game.
Police Address Community Concern
Gadsden Police acknowledged the fear and anger generated by the shooting, particularly because it involved young people and occurred at a popular gathering place following a high school football game.
“We understand the concern and anger this incident has caused, especially because it involved young people and occurred at a place where families and students gather after Friday night football,” police said. “Our community should be able to enjoy those moments without fear.”
While announcing that a suspect was in custody, police stressed that the arrest could not erase the harm caused by the shooting.
“An arrest cannot undo what happened Friday night,” the department said. “We continue to pray for the injured parties and victims, their families, and everyone affected by this shooting.”
The investigation remains active, and additional information could be released as the case moves forward.
Anyone with additional information regarding the shooting is asked to contact the Gadsden Police Department at 256-549-4500.
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