Ordinary people doing the extraordinary: Chief Harris applauds citizens after bowling alley shooting

When multiple people were injured inside a Montgomery bowling alley, ordinary people stepped up to render aid and identify the alleged shooter.

Montgomery police Chief Ramona Harris issued a statement after 21-year-old Jeffrey Reed was fatally wounded, two people were critically injured and four others were shot Sunday about 1 a.m. at the Bama Lanes bowling alley on Atlanta Highway.

"We appreciate the community coming forward with assisting in the identification of the offender and rendering first aid - ordinary people acting in an extraordinary way," Harris said.

Based on the investigation, Harris said there was a verbal altercation between people inside the establishment that led to the shooting.

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A video circulating on Facebook, that purportedly was taken inside the bowling alley, shows patrons engaged in a verbal altercation before the sound of gunfire is heard and people begin scattering away from the violence.

An off-duty Montgomery police officer, working alongside a private security guard, were at the bowling alley at the time of the shooting.

"Within seconds of the shooting, the police officer and other patrons rendered first aid to the injured and the officer called for back-up," Harris said. "While other patrons were exiting the business, it is believed the shooter fled the scene at that time."

Tory Johnson, 23, was identified by community members, Harris said. Johnson is charged with murder, two counts of first-degree assault and four counts of second-degree assault.

Four of those injured, Harris said, appear to have been innocent bystanders.

"This was an isolated shooting incident resulting in multiple people being injured and one person being killed due to reckless behavior with a firearm," Harris said.

Reed's death marks the city's fourth homicide so far this year. Montgomery police investigated 76 homicides last year, nearly 90% of which were caused by gunfire.

"I want the citizens of Montgomery to know that we are not in a hopeless state," Harris said. "The Montgomery Police Department continues to invest in and expand technological resources that will help combat gun violence. We are also placing even more emphasis on community engagement through outreach and awareness that will hopefully change and have a positive influence on the culture and mentality that we are seeing today."

Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Kirsten Fiscus at 334-318-1798 or KFiscus@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @KDFiscus

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Montgomery police Chief Ramona Harris on bowling alley shooting