An investigation is ongoing into the mass shooting Saturday (April 15) at a Sweet 16 party in downtown Dadeville, Ala., WRBL reports.

Gun fire erupted at approximately 10:30 p.m. at Mahogany Masterpiece Dance Studio, leaving at least four people dead and nearly three-dozen injured, mostly teenagers. One of the largest mass shootings in Alabama history has traumatized the city of just over 3,000 residents, located 57 miles northeast of Montgomery.

Between 40 and 50 partygoers were in attendance before the shooting started, the DJ at the party Keenan Cooper told WBMA.

"It wasn't anything you could pretty much see because the lights were off. They mentioned someone had a gun. They stopped the party for a second, asked them to leave, nobody left and the party continued," Cooper stated.

When the shooting started, Cooper said he tried to help as many people as possible, protecting some of them under his DJ table. Many others darted for the exit to escape.

Shooter

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) has not released any information about suspects, motives, or whether anyone is in custody, AL.com reported.

“Special agents did not recover any high-powered rifle ammunition at the scene; however, they did recover numerous shell casings used in handguns. Investigators are still processing all of the evidence, in conjunction with completing interviews, in an effort to solidify a motive, and potential suspects,” ALEA Senior Trooper Jeremy Burkett said Monday in a written statement, according to AL.com.

Victims who died identified

Tallapoosa County Coroner Mike Knox named the individuals who were fatally shot:

Corbin Holston, 23, of Dadeville, went to the party to check on a younger relative. “Out of concern for other family members, Corbin responded to the party to ensure their safety but unfortunately encountered the suspects,’’ his mother, Janett Heard, told AL.com. “Corbin was selfless when it came to his family and friends and always tried to be a protector. That’s just the type of person he was.”

Philstavious Dowdell, 18, of Camp Hill, Ala., was a high school football player who committed to playing for Jacksonville State University as a wide receiver. His sister, Alexis Dowdell, recalled that her brother died protecting her. “I guess he tried to push me out the door as fast as he could, but I ended up slipping on blood, because it was a whole bunch of blood on the floor,” Alexis told AL.com. It was her Sweet Sixteen birthday party.

Marsiah Collins, 19, of Opelika, Ala., was an aspiring musician who planned to attend Louisiana State University in the fall. He had graduated in 2022 but was pursuing his music career while preparing for his freshman year at LSU, where his father is working on a law degree.

Shaunkivia Nicole “Keke” Smith, 17, of Dadeville, was a student athlete and senior at Dadeville High School where she played volleyball and softball before suffering a knee injury. She was headed to the University of Alabama in the fall.

Injured victims

At least 32 partygoers were injured, some of them in critical condition. Trooper Burkett said there were a “wide variety of injuries.”

In a report Monday from Ivy Creek Healthcare, spokesperson Heidi Smith said 15 teens were brought to the facility Saturday night with gunshot wounds.

Lake Martin Community Hospital saw another 15 patients. Six of them were treated and released. Nine others were transferred to other hospitals, five of them in critical condition and four in stable condition.

At least two victims were taken to Children’s of Alabama in Birmingham, and UAB Hospital received three.