4 dead, 28 others injured after mass shooting at birthday party in Alabama

DADEVILLE, Ala. (WBMA) — Four people are dead and 28 others are injured after a shooting Saturday at a birthday party in Alabama. There has still been no information released on possible suspect(s).

According to Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, some of those injured are still in critical condition.

ALEA said the incident happened around 10:30 p.m. Saturday night in Dadeville. 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 because the shooting occurred at a birthday party for a 16-year-old.

He said the shooting has rocked the small town where serious crime is rare.

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.

The Jacksonville State football program released a statement Sunday afternoon on Phil Dowdell, a multi-sport athlete from Dadeville who was committed to play football for the Gamecocks next season.

Law enforcement held a short news conference Sunday morning. Raymond Porter with Tallapoosa County Schools said counseling will be available for students at the county schools on Monday.

The Associated Press reports President Joe Biden has been briefed on the shooting. The White House said 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 Sunday. “Guns are the leading killer of children in America, and the numbers are rising – not declining. This is outrageous and unacceptable.”

The incident is still under investigation, and officials are asking members of the community to step up and provide information if they can.

If anyone has any information related to this incident, please contact the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s State Bureau of Investigation crime information hotline at 1-800-392-8011 or email at sbi.investigations@alea.gov.