DADEVILLE, Alabama – Police on Sunday were investigating a shooting that left at least four people dead and multiple others injured in Dadeville, about 57 miles northeast of Montgomery.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said the shooting happened at about 10:30 p.m. Saturday night. There was no initial confirmation about what led to the incident, and it was not immediately known whether a suspect was in custody.
The gunfire erupted in Mahogany Masterpiece dance studio, which was converted from old Bank of Dadeville two years ago. Some media outlets report as many as 20 people may have been shot at the gathering, a possible birthday party for a teen.
Police cordoned off several blocks near the crime scene Saturday night, including North Broadnax Street between Green and Columbus streets, and part of Cusseta Street. The strip includes professional services, a furniture store, PNC Bank and the Tallapoosa County Courthouse, which houses county services including the probate office.
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Small town not accustomed to gun violence
Ashley Hill lives in Opelika, but she traveled to downtown Dadeville with two other women after hearing about the shootings to find out whether a friend of the family was safe. “Babies – very devastating,” she said of the teens that had been at the studio.
Hill said the small town of Dadeville doesn’t have the violence of big cities. Dadeville, the county seat of Tallapoosa County in East Central Alabama, has a population of just more than 3,000 people.
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But Dadeville was rocked by at least one prior mass shooting when a gunman on Aug. 28, 2016, wounded five people during a party at the American Legion Hall.
“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,” Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said in a statement posted on social media.
Contributing Associated Press. Follow Adrianna Rodriguez on Twitter: @AdriannaUSAT.
USA TODAY
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