Four people are confirmed dead and multiple others are injured after a shooting Saturday night in Dadeville, Alabama, according to authorities.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) said it began an investigation after the shooting happened at around 10:34 p.m. near the 200 Block of Broadnax Street in Dadeville, located in Tallapoosa County.
“Currently, there have been four confirmed fatalities and multiple injuries,” ALEA said in a statement released Sunday morning. “Nothing further is available as the investigation is ongoing.”
The ALEA’s State Bureau of Investigations opened a death investigation at the request of the Dadeville police chief, the agency said in the press release. ALEA said local police, as well as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, and the 5th Circuit District Attorney’s Office, are assisting with the investigation.
Sources told WRBL, a CBS affiliate, that 20 people were shot at a Sweet-16 birthday event at the Mahogany Masterpiece Dance Studio, and most of the injured victims were teenagers.
As of press time, law enforcement officials have not said whether any suspects have been taken into custody.
Dadeville is located about a 58-mile drive northeast of Montgomery and has a population of about 3,000 people.
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Dadeville pastor Ben Hayes posted on Facebook that he “stood outside of Lake Martin Hospital until 3 a.m. watching hearts break as families learned that their child had been shot – or even worse, dead,” according to AL.com.
Hayes also wrote how his “heart is broken” and shared that he “talked with parents, educators, students. My football players. Our pastors from First Baptist Church. No one knew what to say. Everyone was in shock. Police officers with looks of sadness on their faces. Nothing prepares you for this.”