On Sunday, state police and local news media reported that a shooting occurred during a late-night "Sweet 16" birthday celebration at a dance studio in Dadeville, Alabama, resulting in at least four deaths and 28 people wounded, some of whom are critically injured. The incident took place in east-central Alabama, approximately 60 miles (100 km) northeast of the state capital of Montgomery. Authorities confirmed that the shooting started shortly after 10:30 p.m. CT on Saturday but declined to provide further details or answer questions during two Sunday news conferences.

While officials stated that there is no longer a threat to the community, they did not disclose whether a suspect has been apprehended or killed. Jeremy Burkett, a sergeant with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, stated, "We're going to continue to work in a very methodical way to go through this scene, to look at the facts, and ensure that justice is brought to bear for the families."

According to The Montgomery Advertiser newspaper, one of the victims was a high school football player named Phil Dowdell, who was attending his sister's "Sweet 16" birthday party when the shooting occurred. Dowdell, set to graduate in a few weeks and planning to attend Jacksonville State University on a football scholarship, was identified by his grandmother.

The party took place inside the Mahogany Masterpiece Dance Studio, which was converted from an old bank building located half a block from city hall in Dadeville, a town with approximately 3,200 residents. As of Sunday, the scene was cordoned off with yellow crime-scene tape.