Mass shooting at Mahogany Masterpiece in Dadeville leaves multiple people dead and several injured

As Sunday dawned in Alabama, police continued their investigation into the mass shooting that occurred on Saturday night in downtown Dadeville.

The shooting happened around 10:30 p.m. on Saturday in Dadeville, Alabama

The majority of the victims are thought to be teens, according to local reports

Four people are dead and as many as 20 reportedly injured

Confirmed it was tied to a Birthday Celebration

Asked for Prayers for community and police department

Counseling for students at schools tomorrow

A photo circulating online appears to show six people lying on the venue’s floor

The crime scene, located at the old Bank of Dadeville on 220 N. Broadnax St., which had been converted into the Mahogany Masterpiece dance studio two years ago, was carefully combed for evidence throughout the night by investigators.

On Saturday night, a group of teenagers had gathered at the studio to celebrate a birthday when gunfire broke out shortly after 10:30 p.m.

Raymond C. Porter, the Superintendent Tallapoosa County Board of Education issued the following statement:

My heart is heavy this morning for the families and friends who are suffering and grieving this morning after the senseless tragedy our community experienced last night. Please join me in lifting up the victims, their loved ones, and the Dadeville community in prayer.

Counseling services will be available at Dadeville High School and all Tallapoosa County Schools. We appreciate the prayers of our local clergy and their churches and will be calling on you in the days ahead.

All of our resources will be available to Dadeville High School’s administrators, teachers, and student body as we help them navigate this tragic event and the road to recovery.

Following the incident, law enforcement remained tight-lipped about the shooting, the victims, or any potential suspects for over eight hours. The incident quickly gained attention on social media, with a disturbing image showing six people collapsed inside the venue being circulated. Some users pleaded for the image to be taken down.

Meanwhile, some other social media users recorded videos at a nearby hospital where families were anxiously waiting for updates on their injured loved ones.

One of the victims of the shooting was Phil Dowdell, a high school senior who was set to graduate in just a few weeks and had secured a football scholarship to Jacksonville State.

Dowdell had been celebrating his sister Alexis’ sweet 16 birthday party on Saturday night when the tragic incident occurred, resulting in his untimely death.

Annette Allen, Dowdell’s grandmother, described him as an incredibly humble and kind-hearted individual who never caused any trouble and always had a beaming smile on his face. She referred to his smile as a “million-dollar smile.”

During the party, several teenagers, as well as Dowdell’s mother, were also shot, with the latter sustaining two gunshot wounds.

Another victim killed in the Dadeville mass shooting has been identified as Ke Nicole.

According to Allen, many parents are currently unaware of the whereabouts of their children and are frantically visiting different hospitals in search of them. She also noted that the shooting incident occurred during Alexis’ birthday celebration, stating “they were here celebrating it.” Allen appealed for prayers for the county and its neighboring areas.

At approximately 8:30 a.m., the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency issued a statement confirming that at least four individuals had lost their lives in the mass shooting that occurred in Dadeville.

The statement indicated that the incident took place around 10:45 p.m. on Saturday and acknowledged that multiple individuals had sustained injuries. However, no further information regarding the exact number of individuals affected by the shooting was disclosed.

At the request of the Dadeville police chief, ALEA confirmed that it will initiate an investigation into the shooting incident.

Ashley Hill, a resident of Opelika, traveled to downtown Dadeville along with two other women upon hearing about the shootings, in an attempt to ascertain the safety of a family friend.

She expressed deep sorrow for the teenagers who had come together to celebrate a birthday, shaking her head as she described the devastation caused by the incident.

According to Hill, Dadeville, a small town with a population of slightly over 3,000, is not typically associated with the level of violence seen in larger cities. However, this is not the first time that the town has experienced a mass shooting, as a gunman wounded five individuals during a party at the American Legion Hall on August 28, 2016. Following the recent incident, the police had cordoned off several blocks near the crime scene, including North Broadnax Street between Green and Columbus streets, as well as a part of Cusseta Street. This strip consists of a range of professional services, a furniture store, PNC Bank, and the Tallapoosa County Courthouse, which offers various county services, including the probate office.

Local officials and witnesses have reported that police are currently addressing a mass shooting that occurred at a dance studio in Dadeville, Alabama, where a teenager’s birthday party was taking place.

Limited information is currently available about the incident, but it transpired around 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, prompting officers to respond to a shooting at the Mahogany Masterpiece dance studio in Tallapoosa County’s small city of Dadeville.

According to law enforcement officials present at the scene, a gathering in downtown Dadeville turned fatal early Sunday morning, resulting in over 20 individuals sustaining injuries from the shooting.

Mahogany Masterpiece in Dadeville Crime Scene

As per investigators, a potential altercation may have resulted in the shooting at the gathering. Multiple law enforcement agencies, such as the Dadeville Police, ALEA’s State Bureau of Investigation, and the Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Office, responded to the incident and are currently conducting an investigation.

According to sources, numerous law enforcement agencies are actively and diligently investigating the mass shooting incident in multiple jurisdictions. However, the limited amount of information being disclosed by law enforcement regarding the victims and suspect(s) has resulted in increased frustration among some members of the community. FOX3 has learned that the investigation is being led by ALEA rather than local law enforcement. A statement was released by ALEA on Sunday morning around 8:15.

At approximately 11:45 p.m. Saturday, April 15, Special Agents with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) State Bureau of Investigations (SBI) launched a death investigation at the request of the Dadeville Police Chief. The investigation is a result of a shooting which occurred at approximately 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. The following agencies responded to the scene and are currently assisting with the investigation: The Dadeville Police Department, Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the 5 Circuit District Attorney’s Office. Nothing further is available as the investigation is ongoing.

Officials have not released an official count of the number of victims, but a witness shared a disturbing photo revealing at least six teenagers lying on the ground.

However, according to another witness present at the scene, the actual number of victims is likely to be higher, with several individuals reportedly perishing on the spot.

White sheets were seen covering the bodies.

Outside a nearby hospital, multiple families were observed congregating.

No information has been provided on the condition or whereabouts of the perpetrator or the possible motive behind the shooting, which occurred during a birthday celebration for a teenager at the dance studio.

Dadeville, a small city located approximately 44 miles northeast of Montgomery, is the site of the incident.

This is a developing story that will be updated when more information is available.