Dadeville shooting: Local students involved, ‘my heart is heavy,’ superintendent says
Dadeville #Dadeville
Four people are dead and as many as 20 reportedly injured following a shooting at a Sweet 16 party in Dadeville Saturday night, according to multiple reports.
The shooting occurred around 10:34 p.m. by Dadeville’s town square at a birthday party, according to authorities.
By Sunday morning, word was ricocheting around the small community. Few details were yet available, Tallapoosa County Superintendent Raymond Porter told AL.com, “and there’s as much misinformation as good information.”
But he said he believed local students from his school district were at the event and affected by the shooting.
As of 9:30 a.m. Sunday morning, no details have been released about the identity of victims or a suspected shooter.
Dadeville is a small community of about 3,000 people. A local high school, up the street, has about 485 students.
“I know all of them very well,” Dadeville High Principal Chris Hand said. “It is an unreal tragedy.”
Porter said schools in Tallapoosa County are expected to open as normal Monday. He later released a short statement:
“My heart is heavy this morning for the families and friends who are suffering and grieving this morning after the senseless tragedy our community experienced last night. Please join me in lifting up the victims, their loved ones, and the Dadeville community in prayer.
“Counseling services will be available at Dadeville High School and all Tallapoosa County Schools. We appreciate the prayers of our local clergy and their churches and will be calling on you in the days ahead.
“All of our resources will be available to Dadeville High School’s administrators, teachers, and student body as we help them navigate this tragic event and the road to recovery.”
See ongoing AL.com coverage of this developing story here.
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