Alabama mass taking pictures: Teen celebration in Dadeville turns lethal, with 4 killed and others injured

(CNN) A mass shooting tied to a celebration has left 4 individuals lifeless and a “multitude” of accidents in Dadeville, Alabama, state officers mentioned.

The taking pictures occurred round 10:34 p.m. Saturday, the Alabama Regulation Enforcement Company mentioned Sunday.

“It was tied to a celebration,” Sgt. Jeremy J. Burkett mentioned. “There have been 4 lives tragically misplaced on this incident, and there is been a large number of accidents.”

Burkett declined to supply extra particulars, citing the continuing investigation.

One of many victims killed was a member of the Dadeville Excessive College soccer workforce, mentioned Ben Hayes, senior pastor of Dadeville’s First Baptist Church.

Hayes additionally serves because the chaplain for Dadeville police and the Dadeville Excessive College soccer workforce. He mentioned the police chief requested him to go to Lake Martin Group Hospital to assist with crowd management and ministering college students who had gathered.

“It is a very shut, tight-knit group,” Hayes instructed CNN’s Isabel Rosales. “Everyone is aware of all people. That is why that is so troublesome it is as a result of this, it is affecting all people locally.”

Hayes mentioned college students instructed him the taking pictures occurred at a “Candy 16” celebration.

“I knew these youngsters personally. Most individuals did,” the pastor mentioned.

Amongst these gathered on the hospital, “There was quite a lot of unhappiness, quite a lot of concern on faces,” Hayes mentioned.

“I feel at this level it is shock,” he mentioned. “I feel most likely the anger will come. I feel it is a matter of time to see how individuals reply to this. However proper now, issues are quiet, and we’re simply praying that it stays that method.”

A prayer vigil will likely be held at 5 p.m. Sunday outdoors First Baptist Church, Hayes mentioned.

“What we have handled is one thing that no group ought to need to endure,” Dadeville Police Chief Jonathan L. Floyd mentioned Sunday.

“I additionally ask every of you please don’t let this second outline what you consider town of Dadeville and our high-quality individuals.”

Dadeville, inhabitants 3,000is about 45 miles northeast of Montgomery.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey publicly despatched her condolences to the group. “This morning, I grieve with the individuals of Dadeville and my fellow Alabamians,” Ivey mentioned in a press release to CNN.

“Violent crime has NO place in our state, and we’re staying intently up to date by regulation enforcement as particulars emerge.”

The Alabama taking pictures occurred the identical day that shots were fired into a crowd at a park in Louisville, Kentucky. Two individuals had been killed and 4 others had been wounded.

The US has suffered at the very least 162 mass shootings within the first 15 weeks of 2023, in response to the Gun Violence Archive. That is a mean of greater than 1.5 mass shootings every single day to this point this yr.

The archive defines mass shootings as these during which 4 or extra individuals are shot, excluding the shooter.

CNN’s Joe Sutton contributed to this report.