Four dead and 28 injured in Alabama 16th birthday shooting
With reporting from Jessica Parker in Dadeville, Alabama, and Nomia Iqbal and George Bowden in Washington DC
With reporting from Jessica Parker in Dadeville, Alabama, and Nomia Iqbal and George Bowden in Washington DC
Live Reporting
Edited by Samuel Horti
All times stated are UK
More pictures from Dadeville
Here are more pictures from the scene of the mass shooting in Dadeville, Alabama, in which four people were killed.
'Our nation is once again grieving' - Biden
President Joe Biden has just issued a statement regarding Saturday's deadly shootings in Alabama and Kentucky.
He says the nation is "once again grieving" for those who have been killed, described the rise in shootings as "outrageous and unacceptable", and says he and the First Lady are praying for the families of the victims and for those who are fighting for their lives in hospital.
"What has our nation come to when children cannot attend a birthday party without fear?" Biden asks in his statement.
"When parents have to worry every time their kids walk out the door to school, to the movie theater, or to the park?"
The statement continues: "Instead, this past week Americans saw national Republican elected leaders stand alongside the NRA in a race to the bottom on dangerous laws that further erode gun safety."
News conference announced
It's rare that we have an incident like this with so much left unknown this far along, but we hope to learn more from officials at the next press conference.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency has put out a tweet saying they will hold another news conference in just under three hours.
It will be held in the same location as the initial news briefing, at the Tallapoosa County Courthouse, at 17:00 local time (18:00 EST, 22:00 GMT).
'I stood outside hospital watching hearts break'
First Baptist Church in Dadeville is organising a community prayer vigil at 17:00 local time, "for a time of prayer with everyone in our community".
In a post shared by the church on Facebook, Pastor Ben Hayes said that he "stood outside of Lake Martin Hospital until 3 a.m. watching hearts break as families learned that their child had been shot - or even worse, dead."
He added: "No-one knew what to say. Everyone was in shock. Police officers with looks of sadness on their faces. Nothing prepares you for this."
Dadeville is a small community of around 3,200 people.
"What we’ve dealt with is something that no community should have to endure," Dadeville Police Chief Jonathan Floyd said today.
"I also ask each of you - please do not let this moment define what you think about the city of Dadeville and our fine people."
What's the latest?
If you're just joining us, here is a brief recap of the events in Alabama - what we know, but also what we don't:
What we know so far
What we don't know yet
What are the gun laws in Alabama?
Saturday's mass shooting took place in the southern state of Alabama, a Republican state known for protecting the right of citizens to own guns.
On January 1 this year, Alabama became the latest state to allow people to carry a concealed handgun without a state permit that requires a background check.
The new law, signed by Governor Kay Ivey, ended the requirement for a permit.
The law applies to anyone aged 18 or older who is not prohibited to carry a gun by state or federal law.
Alabama also recognises valid permits from other states. No permit is required to buy a handgun in the state.
You can find more information on gun laws in Alabama here.
'My heart breaks' - Senator Britt
Republican Katie Britt, who was elected as Alabama's first female senator in November's midterm election, has posted her condolences on Twitter.
Senator Britt is staunch advocate of the second amendment, the right to own and carry guns, and was endorsed by the National Rifle Association in the election.
Pictures from Dadeville
Pictures are emerging from Dadeville, Alabama, where the mass shooting took place at Mahogany Masterpiece dance studio. Dadeville is a small town of about 3,000 people, and the studio appears to be located in the downtown area.
Party DJ 'tried to help people get under tables'
Keenan Cooper, the DJ at the 16th birthday party, told reporters what he remembers from when shots rang out late on Saturday night.
He said he tried to help get guests under tables when it started, but it was too dark to see where and who the shots were coming from.
He also says the party was for reported victim Phil Dowdell's sister, as earlier reported by the Montgomery Advertiser.
Shooting comes as gun lobby group holds annual meeting
This mass shooting has fallen on the same weekend as the National Rifle Association (NRA) - which lobbies against US gun control - holds its annual meeting in Indianapolis.
Former President Donald Trump was the keynote speaker, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis addressed delegates by recorded video.
The meeting went ahead amid increasing calls for tighter US gun laws in the wake of a record number of mass shootings in 2023.
DeSantis, who is expected to seek the Republican Party's nomination for the 2024 White House race, said the right of individuals to bear arms is the "last backstop of freedom and the foundation upon which all our other rights rest".
You can read more about the NRA and how it funds politicians who support its goals here.
Another shooting in America
Nomia Iqbal
North America correspondent
It’s almost hard to keep up with the carnage. It was only two weeks ago that I was in Nashville, covering a mass shooting at a private Christian school. Six people, including three children aged nine, were shot dead in class by a former student.
Since then, there have been more shootings, and this latest incident in Alabama takes America to a staggering milestone: there have been nearly 150 mass shootings in the US so far this year. This is defined as where more than four people are injured or killed - excluding the assailant.
And soon we will get locked into a desperate cycle. We will see vigils, sombre police chiefs delivering the news, victims’ faces and names being released, the body cam footage of police, and hear the troubled background of the assailant. Then comes the never ending war between the pro and anti-gun lobbies.
There will be those who offer ‘thoughts and prayers’ and those who plea for tighter gun control. But the latter won’t happen, especially in Alabama.
Republican Governor Kay Ivey has released a statement in response to the birthday party shooting, saying violence has no place in the state. But Ivey is a strong supporter of second amendment rights. Last year she signed a law which ended the requirement to obtain a permit to carry a concealed handgun in public.
Party was for victim's sister - local media
As we just reported, the Montgomery Advertiser is quoting Annette Allen, said to be the grandmother of Phil Dowdell, as confirming her grandson's death.
She said that her grandson had a "million-dollar smile".
Allen also told the outlet that the party torn apart by gunfire was to celebrate the 16th birthday of Dowdell's sister, Alexis.
The Montgomery Advertiser reports that Dowdell's mother was also shot and wounded.
"Everybody's grieving," Allen said.
Victim of shooting was star athlete, family says
Phil Dowdell has been named by local media as one of the victims of Saturday night's shooting.
Phil was a senior in high school and was going to Jacksonville State University on an American football scholarship.
Pastor Ben Hayes, who serves as the chaplain for the Dadeville Police Department and for the local high school football team, said that most of the victims were teenagers.
"One of the young men that was killed was one of our star athletes and just a great guy," he said.
"I knew many of these students. Dadeville is a small town and this is going to affect everybody in this area."
His grandmother Annette Allen told the Montgomery Advisor that, “he was a very, very humble child. Never messed with anybody. Always had a smile on his face,"
Dowdell's death has yet to be confirmed by officials.
A community vigil is being organised for the victims of Saturday's shooting.
Parents await answers on their children - local media
Local media in Alabama are reporting that some parents are still searching for information about their children 12 hours after the shooting took place. Some are reportedly going from hospital to hospital trying to find them.
We do not know exactly how many people were injured at the 16th birthday party, only that Sgt Jeremy Burkett said earlier it was "multitudes".
Unclear if any suspects in custody
As yet police have not confirmed what led to the shooting, or whether any suspects or persons of interest in the case have been taken into custody.
The bloodshed comes within weeks of two other high-profile mass shootings - at a Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee, and a bank in Louisville, Kentucky. Eleven people died in those attacks overall.
The BBC is working to confirm more details about the incident with city officials.
President Biden briefed on situation
The US president was briefed on the Dadeville shooting a few minutes ago. The White House says it is monitoring the situation and is in touch with local law enforcement officials.
Alabama law enforcement say investigation is ongoing
Sgt Jeremy Burkett, a spokesman for the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, held a brief press conference about the incident - confirming four dead and saying the shooting happened at a birthday party - but provided few further details. He said officials will provide more information in two hours' time.
Governor issues statement
Governor Kay Ivey, who last year signed into law a protection of the right to own guns in the state, has tweeted her condolences.
She said on Twitter: "This morning, I grieve with the people of Dadeville and my fellow Alabamians. Violent crime has NO place in our state, and we are staying closely updated by law enforcement as details emerge."
Where was the shooting?
Dadeville, Alabama is a rural town located in Tallapoosa County in the east of Alabama.
It has a population of about 3,200 people.
We know the shooting occurred at the Mahogany Masterpiece Dance Studio at a 16th birthday party and are hearing that most of the victims were teenagers.
Starting our live coverage
Marianna Brady
Live reporter
At least four people were killed and several injured in a mass shooting in the US state of Alabama on Saturday night.
The shooting occurred at a 16th birthday party in the city of Dadeville.
We're expecting to hear the latest details from officials at the top of the hour.
We'll be bringing you the latest news, stay with us.