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Four people killed and multiple others injured in Alabama shooting Four people killed and multiple others injured in Alabama shooting
(32 minutes later)
Most of the victims are teenagers from last night’s shooting at dance studio during a 16th birthday party in DadevilleMost of the victims are teenagers from last night’s shooting at dance studio during a 16th birthday party in Dadeville
Four people were killed in a shooting in east Alabama on Saturday night at a dance studio during a teenager’s birthday party and multiple people left injured, police said.Four people were killed in a shooting in east Alabama on Saturday night at a dance studio during a teenager’s birthday party and multiple people left injured, police said.
WRBL, a local news station, reported that the shooting happened at about 10.30pm Saturday night at a 16th birthday party in Dadeville, about 50 miles north-east of Montgomery. WRBL, a local news station, reported that the shooting happened at about 10.30pm on Saturday night at a 16th birthday party in Dadeville, about 50 miles (80km) north-east of Montgomery.
Pastor Ben Hayes, who serves as the chaplain for the Dadeville police department and for the local high school football team, said most of the victims are teenagers . He said the shooting has rocked the small town where serious crime is rare. Philstavious “Phil” Dowdell, a Dadeville high school senior who had signed with Jacksonville State University, was celebrating at his sister Alexis’s party before he was fatally shot, his grandmother Annette Allen told the Montgomery Advertiser.
“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,” Hayes said. “He was a very, very humble child. Never messed with anybody. Always had a smile on his face,” Allen told the newspaper, calling it “a million-dollar smile”.
Dowdell’s mother was among those hurt in the shooting. “Everybody’s grieving,” Allen said.
Pastor Ben Hayes, who serves as the chaplain for the Dadeville police department and for the local high school football team, said most of the victims are teenagers. Dowdell was within weeks of graduation and faced a bright future, Hayes told the Associated Press.
“He was a strong competitor on the field,” Hayes said. “You didn’t want to try to tackle him or get tackled by him. But when he came off the field, he was one of the nicest young men that you could ever meet, very respectful and well-respected by his peers.”
Hayes said worried families swarmed the local hospital on Saturday night trying to find the condition of their children. He said serious crime is rare in Dadeville, and the small city is “sad, traumatized, in shock”.
It was not immediately known if a suspect was in custody.It was not immediately known if a suspect was in custody.
The Alabama law enforcement agency confirmed the fatalities in a statement early Sunday announcing its special agents and the local sheriff’s office were investigating the shooting at the request of the Dadeville police chief: “The investigation is a result of a shooting which occurred at approximately 10.34pm near the 200 Block of Broadnax Street in Dadeville, located in Tallapoosa county. Currently, there have been four confirmed fatalities and multiple injuries.”
Investigators believe an altercation had led to the shooting at the Mahogany Masterpiece dance studio, WRBL reported.Investigators believe an altercation had led to the shooting at the Mahogany Masterpiece dance studio, WRBL reported.
“It was tied to a birthday party,” Sgt Jeremy Burkett, of the Alabama law enforcement agency, said. “There were four lives tragically lost in this incident, and there’s been a multitude of injuries.” “It was tied to a birthday party,” Sgt Jeremy Burkett of the Alabama law enforcement agency said. “There were four lives tragically lost in this incident, and there’s been a multitude of injuries.”
Jonathan Floyd, chief of Dadeville police, said at a news conference: “What we’ve dealt with is something that no community should have to endure. I just ask for your patience. It’s going to be a long process, but I do earnestly solicit your prayers.” Jonathan Floyd, chief of the Dadeville police, said at a news conference: “What we’ve dealt with is something that no community should have to endure. I just ask for your patience. It’s going to be a long process, but I do earnestly solicit your prayers.”
More than 12 hours after the shooting, investigators continued filing in and out of the Mahogany Masterpiece dance studio on Sunday.More than 12 hours after the shooting, investigators continued filing in and out of the Mahogany Masterpiece dance studio on Sunday.
City and county officials milled about the Tallapoosa county courthouse less than a block away, where officials lowered the American and Alabama flags to half staff. City and county officials milled about the Tallapoosa county courthouse less than a block away, where officials lowered the American and Alabama flags to half-staff.
“This morning, I grieve with the people of Dadeville and my fellow Alabamians,” Kay Ivey, the governor of Alabama, said on Twitter.“This morning, I grieve with the people of Dadeville and my fellow Alabamians,” Kay Ivey, the governor of Alabama, said on Twitter.
“Violent crime has NO place in our state, and we are staying closely updated by law enforcement as details emerge.”“Violent crime has NO place in our state, and we are staying closely updated by law enforcement as details emerge.”
In 2022 Ivey signed a bill into law which ended the requirement for a person to get a permit to legally carry a concealed handgun in public. The National Rifle Association (NRA) had lobbied for the bill to be passed. In 2022 Ivey signed a bill into law which ended the requirement for a person to obtain a permit to legally carry a concealed handgun in public. The National Rifle Association (NRA) had lobbied for the bill to be passed.
In an ad for her re-election campaign last year, Ivey touted her gun-friendly approach, describing the second amendment as “sacred”. In the advert Ivey was shown withdrawing a handgun from her purse.In an ad for her re-election campaign last year, Ivey touted her gun-friendly approach, describing the second amendment as “sacred”. In the advert Ivey was shown withdrawing a handgun from her purse.
Alabama has the third highest rate of gun deaths in the US, according to a 2020 report by Everytown, an organization which works to improve gun safety and end gun violence.Alabama has the third highest rate of gun deaths in the US, according to a 2020 report by Everytown, an organization which works to improve gun safety and end gun violence.
The shooting comes as two people were killed in a shooting in Louisville, Kentucky, on Saturday night, days after a gunman shot and killed five people in the city. President Joe Biden has been briefed on the shooting, the White House said, adding that it is closely monitoring the situation and has been in touch with local officials and law enforcement to offer support.
“What has our nation come to when children cannot attend a birthday party without fear? When parents have to worry every time their kids walk out the door to school, to the movie theater, or to the park?” Biden said in a statement on Sunday. “Guns are the leading killer of children in America, and the numbers are rising – not declining. This is outrageous and unacceptable.”
Biden called on Congress to “require safe storage of firearms, require background checks for all gun sales, eliminate gun manufacturers’ immunity from liability, and ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines”.
This is at least the second time in recent years that multiple people were shot in Dadeville. Five people were wounded in July 2016 during a shooting at an American Legion hall, and a man was later charged with five counts of attempted murder, news outlets reported.
The latest shooting comes as two people were killed in a shooting in Louisville, Kentucky, on Saturday night, days after a gunman shot and killed five people in the city.
Associated Press reported that an unidentified suspect fired a gun into a crowd of hundreds in Chickasaw Park in Louisville, killing two people and wounding four others.Associated Press reported that an unidentified suspect fired a gun into a crowd of hundreds in Chickasaw Park in Louisville, killing two people and wounding four others.
On Monday five people were killed when a man opened fire with an assault-style rifle at the Louisville bank where he worked. Eight others were wounded.On Monday five people were killed when a man opened fire with an assault-style rifle at the Louisville bank where he worked. Eight others were wounded.
“This has been an unspeakable week of tragedy for our city,” Mayor Craig Greenberg said at the scene of the shooting on Saturday night.“This has been an unspeakable week of tragedy for our city,” Mayor Craig Greenberg said at the scene of the shooting on Saturday night.
“On Monday, we lost five of our fellow citizens to a horrific act of workplace gun violence,” Greenberg said.“On Monday, we lost five of our fellow citizens to a horrific act of workplace gun violence,” Greenberg said.
“And now, five days later, we’re at another scene of a reckless act of gun violence.”“And now, five days later, we’re at another scene of a reckless act of gun violence.”