The shooting occurred at around 10:30 p.m. local time on Saturday (GMT 0330 on Sunday), TV station WRBL cited the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency release as saying.

Local reports said that the shooting occurred at a dance studio during what seemed to be a teenager's birthday party.

Shots were fired at the Mahogany Masterpiece Dance Studio in the city of Dadeville. BBC said high school senior Phil Dowdell, a star athlete, has been named among the deceased by local media.

The cause of the shooting was unknown, as well as whether any suspects had been taken into custody.

According to CNN, the Sweet 16 party turned into a scene of carnage claiming four lives and wounding 28 others.

President Joe Biden in a statement expressed deep anguish. "What has our nation come to when children cannot attend a birthday party without fear?"  Biden asked, in a statement released by the White House on Sunday.