Dadeville Shooting: 4 killed and 28 injured at birthday part

A shooting at a teen's birthday party in Alabama killed four people and injured 28 more.

Authorities say four people were killed and 28 others were injured, some gravely, in a shooting at a birthday party in Dadeville, Ala., on Saturday night.

The attack occurred shortly after 10:30 p.m. local time at the Mahogany Masterpiece dance studio, where guests were gathered for a Sweet 16 celebration.

By Sunday evening, law enforcement officials had still not revealed a motive or whether any suspects had been identified.

"This is also a very fluid situation," Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Sgt. Jeremy Burkett said during a press conference, adding that officials are still trying to determine who was in the studio building at the time of the event.

He did not say how many of the 28 people injured were shot, or how many of them were in severe condition.

He invited residents to come forward with any information that could help the ALEA's probe, which was begun at the request of the Dadeville police chief.

According to Heidi Smith, marketing director of Ivy Creek Healthcare, which operates a hospital in Dadeville, the hospital handled at least 15 gunshot patients.

According to Smith, at least 17 ambulances responded to the scene. Some casualties were treated and released from Lake Martin Community Hospital, while others were taken to other hospitals, including a trauma facility in Birmingham, she said.

Annette Allen stated that the attack occurred at her granddaughter's 16th birthday celebration. Allen's grandson, a high school athlete, was murdered in the shooting, while her daughter was injured and taken to a nearby hospital.

"This is a small community, and they just wanted to enjoy the birthday party," Allen explained to NPR affiliate Troy Public Radio. "We had to stand there and wait for the bodies to be brought out."

Her grandson, Phil Dowdell, was about to graduate and was planning to attend Jacksonville State on a football scholarship, Allen told the Montgomery Advertiser.

Dowdell's death was announced on Twitter by Rich Rodriguez, the head football coach of the University of Alabama.

"We are devastated to have lost an upcoming member of our programme," Rodriguez added. "He was a great young man with a bright future."

The incident occurred in a "tight-knit community."

Dadeville is a small town with a population of around 3,000 people. It's about an hour's drive from Montgomery, the state capital.

At a press conference on Sunday morning, Dadeville Police Chief Jonathan Floyd described the town as a "tight-knit community full of wonderful people."

The shooting affected "multiple communities and high schools," according to Alabama State Superintendent of Education Eric Mackey.

Tallapoosa County Schools Superintendent Raymond Porter said counsellors would be on campus on Monday to offer support to pupils, noting that children will be the most affected by the recent tragedy.

"This does not represent our community or our children," Porter went on to say.

Authorities have not revealed any information on the victims, including their ages. However, the shooting at the sweet 16 birthday celebration occurs at a time when firearms have become the greatest murderer of children in the United States. Gun violence will overtake car accidents as the main cause of death for people aged 19 and under by 2020.

According to the independent group Gun Violence Archive, there have been 161 mass shootings in the United States so far this year. A mass shooting, according to the group, is defined as any incidence with four or more victims, excluding the gunman. The attack on Saturday came less than a week after a shooter opened fire on a bank in Louisville, Kentucky, killing five people and injured nine more.

According to the White House, President Biden was briefed on the shooting. Biden and his colleagues have been in contact with local authorities to provide support and are actively following the situation.

Gov. Kay Ivey tweeted on Sunday morning that she was grieving the events in Dadeville, but she did not elaborate.

"I mourn with the people of Dadeville and my fellow Alabamans this morning." "Violent crime has no place in our state, and law enforcement is keeping us updated as details emerge," Ivey stated.