A shooting at a birthday celebration in Dadeville, Alabama, on Saturday night, April 15, reportedly left four people dead and as many as 20 wounded.
The party was celebrating a Sweet 16th birthday, and most of the wounded were young people. Tallapoosa County Superintendent stated that he knew local children were present at the party but had no more details to provide.
An Unexpected and Tragic Event
The witnesses told The Hill that the incident happened during a party celebrating the 16th birthday of a guest at Mahogany Masterpiece Dance Studio in central Dadeville.
It was at 10:34 PM when the shooting occurred on Dadeville's 200 Block of Broadnax Street. Multiple gunshots and the sounds of people shouting were reported by those outside the building.
More than 20 individuals were shot and sent to area hospitals, according to reports cited by WRBL. Most of the wounded are teenagers.
No information about the suspects or their motivations has been made public by the police at this time.
There was still crime scene tape around the dancing studio ten hours after the incident. The front glass door was covered with a tarp, and white sheets were laid up on the floor inside. The front walkway was covered with many yellow police signs.
Investigators from the Alabama State Bureau of Investigation, the Dadeville Police Department, and the Tallapoosa County Sheriff's Office all came to the scene. As of Sunday morning, April 16, investigators had not made a public announcement.
According to an Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) news statement, as reported by AL.com, "Currently, there have been four confirmed fatalities and multiple injuries. Nothing further is available as the investigation is ongoing."
The shooting left the little community in shock. Authorities in Dadeville and Tallapoosa County are appealing to the public for help in solving the crime.
About 3,200 people call Dadeville, Alabama home. It is located in eastern Alabama, 57 miles northeast of Montgomery.
A Widespread Outpouring of Sympathy
Alabama governor Kay Ivey expressed her condolences to the residents of Dadeville and the state of Alabama in a tweet this morning. She stated, "Violent crime has NO place in our state, and we are staying closely updated by law enforcement as details emerge."
On Facebook, Pastor Ben Hayes of Dadeville said that he "stood outside of Lake Martin Hospital until 3 AM watching hearts break as families learned that their child had been shot - or even worse, dead."
Hayes added that parents, educators, pastors, and kids, including his football players, were consulted. But these people were at a loss for words. Even law enforcement officials bear expressions of deep anguish. He said that nothing prepares anyone for this.