Alabama shooting — In April, Dadeville, Alabama, was the site of another mass shooting that left four people dead and 32 others injured. The Alabama shooting occurred over a sweet 16 birthday party. The shooting took place at 220 N. Broadnax St, which had been the former Dadeville Bank before it was converted into the Mahogany Masterpiece Dance Studio in 2021.
The gunfire started at 10:34 pm. The celebrant recalled how her older brother found her at the party after getting wind that someone in the event had a gun. The mother urged anyone who had a gun to leave. Five minutes later, the Alabama shooting started.
According to the DJ, the party had to stop when a person with a gun was refused entry. The shooting occurred an hour later. Many believed it was triggered from an altercation.
Investigation
During a news conference the next morning, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency assured people that it had launched an investigation, urging witnesses to come forward.
At the scene of the crime, investigators found 89 shell casings from seven different guns. In addition, one of the victims was found holding a gun to his chest.
There had been over 60 people at the venue when the shooting began.
The Victims of Alabama Shooting
The Alabama shooting suffered four casualties with 32 others making it out with injuries. The victims include:
- Philstavious “Phil” Dowdell, 18
- Shaunkivia Nicole Smith, 17
- Marsiah Emmanuel Collins, 19
- Corbin Dahmontrey Holston, 23
Dadeville High School coach Roger McDowell shared that Philsavious “Phil” Dowdell” had been a star football player and track team member at the high school. He was especially regarded as a standout receiver. Dowdell was revealed to have committed to joining Jacksonville State University on a football scholarship.
Rich Rodriguez, the head coach of Jacksonville State’s football team, grieved the Alabama shooting and had praise for Dowdell.
“He was a great young man with a bright future,” he tweeted. “My staff and I are heartbroken and hope that everyone will support his family through this difficult time.”
McDowell honored Dowdell by describing him and his ambitions, saying: “Phil was humble with a major smile. He had one goal: to get to the NFL and take care of his mom.”
Shaunkivia Smith was also a fellow senior, and her family shared that she went by “Ke,” playing volleyball and softball. McDowell revealed that Ke managed the track and football teams. Ke had been described as a model student-athlete with ambitions of attending college, specifically the University of Alabama, as per her cousin Amy Jackson.
“She just always told my son that she was gonna go to school – she wanted to go to college,” said Jackson. Smith would often take care of her younger siblings, helping her mom however way she could.
“She had a smile that was contagious. I mean, she smiled, you’re going to smile back,” Ke’s cousin added.
Meanwhile, Shirley Collins, the mother of Alabama shooting victim Marsiah Collins, described the youngest of her children as someone who would do anything for anybody. Going by the nickname “Siah,” he graduated from Opelika High School in 2022. The victim was a former football and track athlete with a penchant for music. Siah had planned to attend college in Georgia, where he would study music. He was at the scene as a guest for the celebrant’s brother.
Read More: CBI suspends key activities after rape allegation
The Shooters
Days after the Alabama shooting, six people were arrested in connection to the birthday party massacre. Four of the culprits were reported to be teenagers.
The Tuskegee brothers, Tyreese McCullough, 17, and Travis McCullough, 16, were arrested and later charged with four counts of reckless murder. They are expected to receive more charges as they are being charged as adults.
Suspect Wilson LaMar Hill, 20, also faces the same charges. Johnny Letrown Brown of Tuskegee, also 20, was arrested on April 20; meanwhile, Willie George Brown, 19, was arrested a day later.
The youngest of the suspects was reportedly 15 years old, but his name and bail conditions were withheld due to their age.
In May 2022, the Browns, Hill, and the McCulloughs were indicted for the following:
- 4 reckless murder charges
- 24 first-degree assault charges
- 1 third-degree assault charge
The first-degree assault charges account for the victims of the Alabama shooting who suffered serious gunshot injuries while the third-degree assault charges represent a victim who suffered from a superficial gunshot wound.
