Friends are rallying around two longtime friends, both cheerleaders, who suffered critical injuries in the weekend shooting at a Sweet 16 birthday party in Dadeville.

Cara Johns and Trinity Richards are among 28 people wounded when gunfire erupted inside the private event venue Mahogany’s Masterpiece.

Four others were killed: Corbin Dahmontrey Holston, Marsiah Emmanuel “Siah” Collins, 19, Philstavious Dowdell, 18, and Shaunkivia Nicole “Keke” Smith, 17.

Smith and Dowdell were both seniors at Dadeville High School. The party was in honor of Dowdell’s younger sister.

The investigation into the deadly shooting is ongoing, led by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

Authorities have remained tight-lipped about the probe and have not released any updates since Sunday nor said whether any suspects have been identified or are in custody.

Richards, a Pike Road High School student, remains hospitalized in Birmingham.

Johns, a former Pike Road cheerleader who recently moved to Tallassee High School, is being treated in Columbus.

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Dadeville birthday party shooting

“Saturday night Cara was shot three times in the ruthless events that took place in Dadeville at the Sweet 16 birthday party,’’ Hannah Hussey posted on Facebook.

“She is in critical condition, but she is stable,’’ Hussey said. “She did have brain surgery as well as surgery to address her chest and abdominal gunshot wounds.”

“The doctors feel confident that they have repaired her chest and abdominal wounds completely,’’ she said. “We are now in the waiting period of reducing the swelling of her brain.”

“God has heard our prayers,’’ Hussey said. “Please continue to lift all of these children and their families affected by this up to Jesus.”

Pike Road Schools posted released this statement:

“Many of our students know the victims of this tragedy. We can confirm one of our students was present and was impacted. We continue to pray for healing and comfort for all the students, families and communities suffering in the wake of this tragic and sad event. Counselors will be available at Pike Road High School this week. Local clergy will also be available for those who want to speak with one of them.”

Amy Traff, whose daughters have cheered with both girls at Pike Road, said there’s been an outpouring of support for the girls and their families.

“People are praying,’’ Traff said. “They’re on their knees praying for a miracle that we know can happen.”

Traff is spearheading an effort to deliver care packages to the families of both girls. More than $3,000 has already been raised as well.

Donations are still being accepted by Splurge Boutique owner Alexia Henig at the store in Halcyon Park in Montgomery.

“These girls are like family to all of us,’’ she said. “We’re put on earth to serve others and the least we can do is help the families.”

Traff said the shooting has been a shock to those who know the girls and other victims.

“They realize it could have been any of them,’’ she said, “and they realize how scary things are in the world now.”

Surviving victims from the shooting are spread out at hospitals throughout Alabama and Georgia.

Heidi Smith, of Ivy Creek Healthcare, spoke Monday from Lake Martin Community Hospital, where 15 teens were brought in Saturday night with gunshot wounds.

“It’s very traumatic in a health care setting when you have one gunshot wound come through,’’ Smith said. “But when you have 15 and they’re all teenagers…our staff has been through a lot.”

“And they stood up like troopers,’’ Smith said. “They did a fantastic job. They are heroes. The rural hospitals are heroes in these situations and will continue to be.”

Of the 15 patients taken to Lake Martin Community Hospital, six were treated and released. Nine others were transferred to other hospitals – five of those in critical condition and four in stable condition.

At least two victims were taken to Children’s of Alabama in Birmingham. UAB Hospital confirms it has three victims from the Dadeville shooting.

Smith said it was “organized chaos” but something for which they have trained. “We activated our emergency crisis team and had 20 to 25 people working,’’ she said.

“We have mass shooting practices,’’ she said, “but I don’t think it’s ever anything you really can prepare for.”