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Shooting at teen's birthday party leaves at least 4 dead, more than 20 injured; police chief requests prayers
Image source: WFSA screenshot
mass shooting

Shooting at teen's birthday party leaves at least 4 dead, more than 20 injured; police chief requests prayers

A mass shooting at a teen's birthday party Saturday left at least four people dead and more than 20 others injured, Fox News Digital reported.

"[This] may be a little tough," Dadeville's Police Chief Jonathan Floyd said in a press conference Sunday morning alongside the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and other officials.

"The city of Dadeville is a tight-knit community full of wonderful people,"he added.

"What we've dealt with is something that no community should have to endure ... I earnestly solicit your prayers."

"There were four lives tragically lost in this incident, and there have been a multitude of injuries" ALEA's Sgt. Jeremy Burkett said.

The shooting took place Saturday night at the Mahogany Masterpiece dance studio in Dadeville, according to the Montgomery Advertiser.

Teens had gathered at the 220 N. Broadnax Street location for a "sweet 16" birthday celebration, WRBL reported.

Witnesses told WRBL the majority of the injured were teens, but this has not yet been confirmed by authorities.

Authorities had released few details about the incident after working the horrific scene overnight.
"One of the young men that was killed was one of our star athletes and just a great guy. So I knew many of these students. Dadeville is a small town and this is going to affect everybody in this area," Dadeville Police chaplain Pastor Ben Hayes told the Associated Press.
"This morning, I grieve with the people of Dadeville and my fellow Alabamians. Violent crime has NO place in our state, and we are staying closely updated by law enforcement as details emerge," Alabama's Governor Kay Ivey (R) tweeted Sunday morning.
Special agents with ALEA State Bureau of Investigations launched a death investigation at the request of Dadeville's Police Chief at approximately 11:45 p.m. Saturday. The shooting occurred at approximately 10:34 p.m., the statement also said.
Agencies responding to the scene and assisting with the investigation include The Dadeville Police Department, Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the 5th Circuit District Attorney’s Office.
Tallapooosa County Superintendent of Schools Raymond Porter, speaking at the press conference Sunday morning, said the school will be providing counseling for students Monday, and that staff will "make every effort to comfort those children."
"[The children] are the ones most impacted by this situation," Superintendent Porter also said.

Dadeville is about 85 miles southeast of Birmingham, and is Tallapoosa County's county seat. The town's population was about 2,998 people in 2021.

Police ask for anyone with information to call 1-800-392-8011.

Fox News correspondent Mark Meredith reported President Biden was briefed overnight about the Dadeville shooting.

TheBlaze requested comment from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Sunday morning, but did not hear back in time for publication.

Watch WSFA's coverage of the news conference on the shooting in Dadeville below.




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Michele Blood

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