A mass shooting that occurred at a Sweet 16 birthday party in Dadeville, Alabama, left dozens injured and killed four people, including the brother of the birthday girl.
At least two of the victims were local high school seniors who were about to graduate, according to CNN. At least 28 people were injured by the shooting that occurred at a dance studio at around 10:30 p.m. on Saturday. A hospital that received 15 of the injured teenagers said six of them had been released, with the others being transferred to local facilities. Of those, five remain in critical condition and four are stable, per a hospital spokesperson.
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There have been at least 16 mass shootings since the beginning of April in the United States and 162 total mass shootings since the start of 2023, according to data from the Gun Violence Archive.
Sgt. Jeremy Burkett did not take questions during news conferences held on Sunday. He did not say if police had a suspect in custody or if investigators determined a motive.
Burkett did not provide the names of those killed, but two of the victims, Keke Smith and Phil Dowdell, were identified by friends and family, and Tallapoosa County Coroner Mike Knox identified the remaining two victims,
Here is what is known about the four victims of the latest mass shooting. This list will be updated as more information is released about the victims.
Keke Smith
Keke Smith, a soon-to-be graduate of Dadeville High School, planned on attending the University of Alabama before she was shot and killed.
“She was always smiling,” Amy Jackson, Smith’s cousin, said.
Smith was a student athletics manager for Dadeville High School’s track team, and she also helped the basketball team, according to assistant football, track, and basketball coach Michael Taylor.
Taylor said Smith had recently torn her ACL and had taken a step back from running track.
Marsiah Emmanuel “Siah” Collins
Marsiah Emmanuel “Siah” Collins, 19, graduated from Opelika High School in 2022. He is one of the four victims killed by gunfire on Saturday.
Collins’s father told AL.com that his son was an aspiring singer and planned to start college this fall. He played defensive end for the Opelika football team in 2021.
Corbin Dahmontrey Holston
Corbin Dahmontrey Holston, 23, was a 2018 graduate from Dadeville High School, where Smith and Dowdell attended.
Holsten did not attend the party but arrived to check on a younger family member who was concerned there could be trouble, Janett Heard, Holsten’s mother, told AL.com.
“Out of concern for other family members, Corbin responded to the party to ensure their safety but unfortunately encountered the suspects,’’ Heard said.
“Corbin was selfless when it came to his family and friends and always tried to be a protector,’’ Heard added. “That’s just the type of person he was.”
Philstavious “Phil” Dowdell
Dadeville High School senior Phil Dowdell was confirmed as one of the four victims by his coach, Roger McDowell. McDowell said he was a star athlete with talent in several areas, including basketball, track, and football. The coach said he knew Smith, as well.
Dowdell was the older brother of the birthday girl, named Alexis, and the oldest of three siblings. His grandmother, Annette Allen, confirmed his death to the Montgomery Advertiser. Allen also said Dowdell’s mother was injured due to the shooting.
“He was a very, very humble child. Never messed with anybody. Always had a smile on his face,” she said of Dowdell, saying it was “a million-dollar smile.”
Ben Hayes, the chaplain of Dadeville High School’s football team, said he knew the victims of the shooting “personally.” He said Dadeville rarely faces serious crime, which is why the small city is “sad, traumatized, in shock.”
“He was a strong competitor on the field,” the chaplain said of Dowdell. “You didn’t want to try to tackle him or get tackled by him. But when he came off the field, he was one of the nicest young men that you could ever meet, very respectful and well-respected by his peers.”
McDowell said Dowdell told him a month ago, “If anything ever happened to me, even when I go to college, take care of my two sisters.”
Dowdell was set to attend Jacksonville State University and play football, said Keenan Cooper, the DJ at the birthday party. Cooper described Dowdell as a “hometown hero.”
Antojuan Woody, who was a senior and wide receiver on the Dadeville Tigers football team, said he had been best friends with Dowdell for all of their lives.
“It hurts. It’s unreal. I can’t believe it,” Woody said during a prayer vigil held on Sunday.
Woody also said they had a special relationship when it came to football.
“Us being friends forever like that, our chemistry was spot on. We always celebrated together on the field,” Woody said.
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Rich Rodriguez, Jacksonville State’s head coach, said in a Sunday statement that the student was “a great young man with a bright future.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Philstavious Dowdell and the other victims of the senseless tragedy last night. My staff and I are heartbroken and hope that everyone will support his family during this difficult time,” Rodriguez said.
