Mobile Resident Raise Concerns After Reported Delayed Police Response to Gunfire Call

Mobile, AL (BuzzReport) — Resident in one Mobile neighborhood say they are shaken and frustrated after what they describe as a delayed police response to a report of teenagers allegedly brandishing and firing guns on a quiet Sunday evening.

According to a resident who asked to remain anonymous due to safety concerns, the incident occurred in a neighborhood off Pleasant Valley Road shortly after 5 p.m. Sunday.

The resident said several young teenagers arrived in the area in multiple vehicles and were seen standing in the street waving handguns equipped with extended magazines. A short time later, the resident claims at least one of the individuals fired shots into the air.

“I was scared. I was even scared for my neighbors and the people in the park next door,” the resident said.

The resident told The BuzzReport they called the Mobile Police Department at approximately 5:52 p.m. to report the situation. They said they provided detailed information to the dispatcher, including that shots had allegedly been fired.

According to the resident, the dispatcher indicated the information would be relayed to an officer on duty and that someone would drive through the area shortly.

“Shortly never came,” the resident said. “Mobile Police never showed up or came down the street. We waited and saw nothing.”

The following day, the resident said they contacted the department again to follow up and report that no officer appeared to have responded. During that call, the resident said an officer had difficulty locating the original report but later indicated that a responding officer logged an arrival time of approximately 6:43 p.m. — nearly an hour after the initial call.

The reported delay has left the resident questioning response times and communication procedures.

“If Mobile was so concerned about guns on the streets, why did it take an hour to respond?” the resident said. “Something serious could have happened. Lives could have been lost, and the police weren’t even there to protect the community.”

The resident also expressed concern that the call notes allegedly did not reflect that shots were fired, raising questions about whether all information was properly relayed to responding officers.

On Monday evening, the resident said they were advised to contact a supervisor around shift change to file a complaint. The resident said they spoke with Sgt. Perkins of the department’s Second Precinct and detailed their concerns.

According to the resident, Sgt. Perkins stated he would look into the matter and suggested possible reasons for the response time, including officers handling multiple calls, staffing shortages, or the need for officers from other precincts to assist elsewhere in the city.

The resident said they were later referred to the precinct captain but felt they were “being given the runaround” instead of receiving clear answers.

“It’s like there is no accountability,” the resident said.

The incident has renewed concerns among some community members about police staffing levels and response times, particularly in situations involving firearms. Under Alabama law, discharging a firearm within city limits under certain circumstances can be a criminal offense, and police responses to reports of active gunfire are typically treated as high priority.

As of publication, the Mobile Police Department has not publicly commented on the specific allegations regarding response time or call documentation in this case.

The investigation into the reported gunfire remains unclear, and it is not known whether any arrests have been made.

The BuzzReport has reached out to the Mobile Police Department for comment and will provide updates as more information becomes available.