{
  "id": "2024-03-18-alabama-am-university-officer-involved-shooting",
  "slug": "alabama-am-university-officer-involved-shooting-2024-03-18",
  "institution": {
    "name": "Alabama A&M University",
    "shortName": "AAMU",
    "state": "AL",
    "type": "hbcu",
    "alertSystemName": "Bulldog Alerts",
    "enrollment": 6200
  },
  "incident": {
    "date": "2024-03-18",
    "type": "shooting",
    "cleryCategory": "emergency-notification",
    "resolution": "confirmed-threat",
    "headline": "Officer exchanges gunfire with an armed student in a stairwell; student hospitalized",
    "headlinePublic": "Officer exchanges gunfire with an armed student in a stairwell; student hospitalized",
    "summary": "On March 18, 2024, according to the campus police account, an officer at Alabama A&M University exchanged gunfire with an armed student in a stairwell of the [Ernest L. Knight Complex](https://www.rocketcitynow.com/article/news/local/local-aamu-issues-campus-alert-knight-center-complex-being-cleared/525-721cfa73-b04f-41ce-afd3-d6fdac4d56fa) after the officer heard gunshots during routine patrol. The student was struck by multiple rounds and hospitalized, while the officer was unharmed. A [campus alert was issued shortly after 2:00 PM CDT](https://www.waff.com/2024/03/18/shooting-confirmed-campus-alabama-am-one-injured/) directing the community to remain clear of the Knight Complex.",
    "outcome": "The student, identified as Willie Brandon Nance, was charged with first-degree aggravated assault with a firearm after being treated at Huntsville Hospital. ALEA took over the investigation. No officers were injured.",
    "casualties": {
      "killed": 0,
      "injured": 1
    }
  },
  "alerts": [
    {
      "sequence": 1,
      "type": "initial",
      "timestampApprox": "Shortly after 2:00 PM CDT on March 18, 2024",
      "channel": "push-notification",
      "verbatimText": "CAMPUS ALERT: The University is aware of a developing public safety emergency near the Knight Center. Out of extreme precaution, all individuals are asked to remain clear of the Knight Complex until further notice.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.rocketcitynow.com/article/news/local/local-aamu-issues-campus-alert-knight-center-complex-being-cleared/525-721cfa73-b04f-41ce-afd3-d6fdac4d56fa",
      "sourceDescription": "Rocket City Now reporting quoting the AAMU campus alert verbatim",
      "annotations": [
        "Rocket City Now reproduced this alert text verbatim shortly after AAMU issued it via push notification",
        "Sent shortly after 2:00 PM CDT on March 18, 2024, within minutes of the 1:50 PM CDT shooting in a Knight Complex stairwell",
        "The alert uses the phrase 'developing public safety emergency' rather than explicitly stating a shooting had occurred",
        "An accompanying line clarified: 'There is believed to be no threat to the University at this time.'"
      ],
      "characterCount": 214
    }
  ],
  "context": "On the afternoon of March 18, 2024, an Alabama A&M University campus police officer was on [routine patrol on the fifth floor of the Ernest L. Knight Complex](https://www.rocketcitynow.com/article/news/local/local-aamu-issues-campus-alert-knight-center-complex-being-cleared/525-721cfa73-b04f-41ce-afd3-d6fdac4d56fa) when he heard gunshots from the floors below. The officer descended to investigate and encountered a student armed with a firearm in a stairwell. An exchange of gunfire followed, and the student was struck by multiple rounds. Campus police said the shooting occurred at approximately 1:50 PM CDT. Social media video showed [two students in a physical fight in the Knight Complex cafeteria](https://www.waaytv.com/news/update-1-injured-in-officer-involved-shooting-at-alabama-a-ms-knight-complex/article_e5bc4c4e-e55b-11ee-b62f-13f5e7636c33.html) shortly before the gunfire, and the altercation spilled outside where initial shots were fired. The injured student was transported to [Huntsville Hospital Trauma Services](https://abc3340.com/news/local/alabama-a-m-hunstville-aamu-shooting-campus-knight-complex-knight-center-person-injured-march-18-2024-campus-security-investigation-update) and later charged as Willie Brandon Nance with first-degree aggravated assault with a firearm. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) assumed control of the investigation. Students and [parents raised concerns about campus safety](https://www.wsfa.com/2024/03/20/alabama-am-students-parents-raise-concerns-after-campus-shooting/) in the days following the incident.",
  "keyFindings": [
    "The incident began as a fight between students in the cafeteria and escalated to gunfire in a stairwell, where a campus officer intervened",
    "The campus alert described a 'developing public safety emergency' rather than explicitly mentioning a shooting",
    "ALEA assumed the investigation as standard protocol for officer-involved shootings in Alabama"
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "Statement on Campus Shooting (Alabama A&M University official statement)",
      "url": "https://www.aamu.edu/about/inside-aamu/news/campus-shooting.html",
      "type": "official-archive"
    },
    {
      "title": "AAMU issues campus alert; Knight Center Complex being cleared (Rocket City Now)",
      "url": "https://www.rocketcitynow.com/article/news/local/local-aamu-issues-campus-alert-knight-center-complex-being-cleared/525-721cfa73-b04f-41ce-afd3-d6fdac4d56fa",
      "type": "local-media"
    },
    {
      "title": "Shooting confirmed at campus of Alabama A&M, one student injured (WAFF 48)",
      "url": "https://www.waff.com/2024/03/18/shooting-confirmed-campus-alabama-am-one-injured/",
      "type": "local-media"
    },
    {
      "title": "Student injured in officer-involved shooting on Alabama A&M campus (ABC 33/40)",
      "url": "https://abc3340.com/news/local/alabama-a-m-hunstville-aamu-shooting-campus-knight-complex-knight-center-person-injured-march-18-2024-campus-security-investigation-update",
      "type": "local-media"
    },
    {
      "title": "Alabama A&M students, parents raise concerns after campus shooting (WSFA)",
      "url": "https://www.wsfa.com/2024/03/20/alabama-am-students-parents-raise-concerns-after-campus-shooting/",
      "type": "local-media"
    }
  ],
  "confidence": "medium",
  "tags": [
    "officer-involved-shooting",
    "hbcu",
    "alabama",
    "cafeteria-fight",
    "dormitory-complex",
    "student-violence",
    "alea-investigation"
  ],
  "dateAdded": "2026-05-03",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-07-16",
  "addedBy": "ingestion"
}