A mass shooting in Dadeville, Alabama, on Saturday night killed at least four people and injured multiple others, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) said.
The incident occurred around 10:30 p.m. local time, according to ALEA. While details are still emerging, WRBL-TV reported that the shooting happened at a local dance studio. Witnesses told WRBL they heard screaming and multiple gunshots coming from inside the building, and the news station reported that more than 20 people had been shot, with varying degrees of injury.
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The dance hall was hosting a 16-year-old's birthday party at the time of the attack, and as a result, many of the victims were reportedly teenagers. One of the deceased was identified by the Montgomery Advertiser as high school senior Phil Dowdell, the brother of the birthday girl. His grandmother, Annette Allen, told the Advertiser Dowdell was "a very, very humble child. Never messed with anybody. Always had a smile on his face."
Dadeville, located about 55 miles northeast of Montgomery, Alabama, has a population of just 3,200 people, and is described as a tight-knit community. Violent crime in the town is extremely rare, The Associated Press reported.
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) wrote on Twitter, "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."
There have been 163 mass shootings in the United States in 2023, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Just last week, a mass shooting at a bank in Lousiville, Kentucky, left five dead and eight injured.
This is a breaking news story that has been updated with additional information.
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