TALLAPOOSA COUNTY, AL — Shots were fired late Saturday as law enforcement officers tried to disperse a crowd at Lake Martin Beach Club in Tallapoosa County, according to the Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Jimmy Abbett said the incident happened around midnight at the club on Alabama Highway 49 near Dadeville.
Deputies responded with help from officers from the Dadeville Police Department, Jacksons Gap Police Department and Camp Hill Police Department. Abbett said the crowd was being broken up when multiple shots were fired. No injuries have been reported.
Sheriff says multiple agencies were already on scene
The sheriff’s office said the response involved several local agencies working together to handle crowd control at the club. Officials have not publicly described what led deputies to move in or how many people were present when the disturbance escalated.
Abbett’s account places the shooting during the dispersal effort rather than before it, and authorities have not said that anyone was struck. The sheriff’s office has also not identified a suspect or said whether any arrests have been made.
Investigation remains open as deputies ask for video and tips
Authorities say the investigation is continuing and are asking anyone with knowledge of the incident, including video, to contact law enforcement. The sheriff’s office listed its Secret Witness Number as (256) 827-2025 and its main number as (256) 825-4264.
Requests for footage often help investigators piece together where shots were fired and who may have been involved. In this case, officials have not yet described the number of rounds fired, the type of weapon used or whether any evidence was recovered from the scene.
Club owner disputes key details about where shots were fired
The owner of Lake Martin Beach Club contacted Action 8 News to challenge parts of the sheriff’s office version of events. He said the shots were not fired at the club itself, but several hundred yards away.
According to the owner, there was a brief altercation inside the venue at closing time, and someone in a vehicle on the highway fired shots toward the property. He said the beach club is fully cooperating with law enforcement as the investigation continues.
What is known about the incident so far
At this stage, the main facts agreed on by both sides are that a late-night disturbance happened near the club and gunfire followed. The sheriff’s office says shots were fired while officers were dispersing a crowd, while the owner says the shooting happened away from the club and toward the property from the highway.
No injuries have been reported, and officials have not said whether the event was tied to a larger dispute, a specific person or any prior conflict at the club. The exact sequence of events remains under review as investigators gather witness statements and any available recordings.
Lake Martin venue draws attention after weekend disturbance
Lake Martin Beach Club sits along Alabama Highway 49 near Dadeville, a location that can draw large nighttime crowds during busy weekends. Incidents like Saturday’s can quickly become difficult to sort out when people leave the area at once and accounts differ about where the gunfire began.
For now, the sheriff’s office is treating the matter as an active investigation. Officials have not announced any charges, and the public appeal for information suggests investigators are still trying to establish a complete timeline of what happened after midnight Saturday.
