A teenager’s birthday party in Dadeville, Alabama, turned into a tragedy after four people were killed and 28 wounded when shooting broke out at the Mahogany Masterpiece dance studio on Saturday, April 15. 

The deadly incident occurred just after 10:30 pm local time while people were gathered to celebrate a Sweet 16 birthday.

Law enforcement officials have not yet released any details about a motive for the attack or whether they had identified any suspects, but the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) launched an investigation into the incident.

Sergeant Jeremy J. Burkett of ALEA said officials were trying to confirm who was in the studio building. He did not specify how many of the 28 injured had gunshot wounds or how many were in critical condition.

According to Ivy Creek Healthcare marketing director Heidi Smith, about 17 ambulances responded to the shooting, and some of the victims were treated and released from the Lake Martin Community Hospital. However, several others were transferred to other hospitals, including a trauma center in Birmingham.

Annette Allen, who had organized the party for her granddaughter, revealed that the gunfire killed her grandson, Philstavious (Phil) Dowdell, a high school athlete. Allen’s daughter was wounded and taken to a nearby hospital. Allen said they had just wanted to enjoy the birthday party, but they ended up standing and waiting for the bodies to be brought out.

Dadeville Police Chief, Jonathan Floyd, described the town as a “tight-knit community” during a press conference on Sunday morning. Alabama State Superintendent of Education, Dr. Eric Mackey, also expressed grief and sorrow over the incident, stating that the shooting had affected multiple communities and high schools.

The shooting at the Sweet 16 party occurred amid increasing concern about gun violence, with firearms becoming the leading cause of death among children in the US. In 2020, gun violence overtook car accidents as the leading fatality cause among people aged 19 or younger. The incident is one of the 161 mass shootings in the US this year.