Teenager Charged With Assault for Shooting at Tuscaloosa Gym

A Tuscaloosa teenager has been charged with felony assault after he allegedly opened fire at the Bobby Miller Activity Center and wounded one person earlier this week.

Captain Jack Kennedy, the commander of the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit, said officers were called to the PARA facility on Highway 69 South in Tuscaloosa County on reports of shots fired around 4 o'clock on Tuesday afternoon.

They did not immediately find a victim, but a male soon turned up at DCH Regional Medical Center in a private vehicle suffering from a gunshot wound. Kennedy said the victim arrived in serious condition.

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The VCU launched an investigation and found that "a group was engaged in a large physical altercation when a shot was fired, striking the victim."

Kennedy said the melee began on the basketball court and the shooting happened inside the activity center, near an exit door.

On Friday afternoon, three days after the shooting, Kennedy said the VCU has arrested a suspect.

"After several days of investigation, the shooter was identified as Areon Brownridge, age 18," Kennedy said. "Arrest warrants were obtained for Assault 1st with bond to be later set by the courts. Brownridge was taken into custody this morning by investigators and has now been committed to jail with no bond."

For updates on the case if any are made available, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.