At least four people were killed and 28 others injured in a mass shooting at a 16th birthday party in Dadeville, Alabama, on Saturday. The incident occurred at the Mahogany Masterpiece Dance Studio, where high school senior Phil Dowdell, a star athlete bound for Jacksonville State University on a football scholarship, was among the victims.
President Joe Biden renewed calls for gun law reform, stating, 'What has our nation come to when children cannot attend a birthday party without fear?' The shooting marks the 160th mass shooting in the US in 2023, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
Details about the suspect remain scarce. Sgt. Jeremy Burkett of Alabama law enforcement described the investigation as a 'long, complicated process.' Injuries ranged from minor to extremely critical, and most victims were teenagers, with some parents still seeking information hours later.
Keenan Cooper, the party DJ, told reporters he tried to help guests take cover but could not see the shooter in the dark. The party was for Phil Dowdell's sister, as confirmed by local media. Pastor Ben Hayes, chaplain for Dadeville Police and the high school football team, described Dowdell as a 'star athlete and just a great guy.'
Governor Kay Ivey expressed grief but faced criticism over her support for gun rights, having recently signed legislation removing the need for a permit to carry concealed handguns. The White House described the rise in shootings as 'outrageous and unacceptable.'
