Tragedy struck Alabama Saturday night as gunfire erupted at a “sweet 16″ birthday party in the heart of Dadeville, killing four young people and injuring 32 others -- some of them critically.
The investigation in Tallapoosa County lasted throughout the day Sunday with no announcement of any arrests in the case.
This morning, in the small community of about 3,000 people, grief counselors will be on hand at Dadeville High School, where at least two of the victims were among the school’s 485 students.
“It is an unreal tragedy,” Dadeville High Principal Chris Hand said. “I am so devastated right now. We have a really good school and these were great students.”
Here is what we know today:
The shooting happened at approximately 10:34 p.m. Saturday at Mahogany’s Masterpiece dance studio on North Broadnax Street in downtown Dadeville, one block from the courthouse.
Most of those injured are teenagers.
As of Sunday evening, few details about what led to the deadly gunfire had been released.
Keenan Cooper, the DJ at the party, told WBMA-TV the event was stopped briefly when partygoers heard someone had a gun. He said people with weapons were asked to leave, but no one did.
Soon after, the shooting started.
See also: Dadeville searches for answers after deadly birthday party shooting: ‘Almost combat-level trauma’
ALEA Senior Trooper Jeremy Burkett told news media gathered at the Tallapoosa County Courthouse that the injured had a “wide variety of injuries” ranging from superficial to critical.
In a written update Monday, Burkett said, “Special agents did not recover any high-powered rifle ammunition at the scene; however, they did recover numerous shell casings used in handguns. Investigators are still processing all of the evidence, in conjunction with completing interviews, in an effort to solidify a motive, and potential suspects.”
The number of injured also increased from 28 to 32.
See also: Hearts broken, dreams shattered by gun violence at birthday party
“This is a very fluid situation,” Burkett said. “We are still trying to confirm everyone who was at the scene.”
ALEA has not released any information about suspects, motives, or whether anyone is in custody. ALEA has asked for anyone with information to call 800-392-8011 or email sbi.investigations@alea.gov.
Those with information may also contact the 5th Circuit District Attorney’s Office concerning the incident or to provide information to the individuals or families concerning victim services at www.5thcircuitda.org/dadeville.
Who are the four people killed?
One of the victims was Philstavious “Phil” Dowdell, a Dadeville football player who had recently committed to Jacksonville State University to play wide receiver. The birthday party was for Dowdell’s sister.
Alexis Dowdell said her brother died protecting her. “I guess he tried to push me out the door as fast as he could, but I ended up slipping on blood, because it was a whole bunch of blood on the floor,” she said.
“I wasn’t crying at the moment because I was trying to be strong instead of panicking. And so I said, ‘You’re going to be all right. You’re a fighter, you’re strong.”
See also: Tell me why, Republicans; or do silence and gun deaths speak for you?: Roy Johnson
Michael Taylor, assistant coach in football, basketball and track at Dadeville High, was on the scene Sunday morning.
He said Dowdell, a slot receiver, was one of the best football players in the state. He was also an honor student who played basketball and won state honors in track in 2022.
Dadeville athlete and Jacksonville State commit Phistavious Dowdell was killed in a mass shooting Saturday night in Dadeville. (Cliff Williams | Alex City Outlook)
“As good a football, basketball and track athlete as he was, he was just as good a person. He always worked hard, was humble .. all the time. He hung on every word the coaches gave him. Whatever you told him, he trusted it and did everything you asked him to do,” McDonald said.
On April 8, Dowdell posted on Facebook, “Everyday my life go up & up, it’s hard for me to get mad”
Keke Nicole Smith, a senior at Dadeville High School, was one of those who died.
The Alexander City Outlook is reporting that Smith was manager of the basketball and track and field teams. She played volleyball and softball until her junior year when a knee injury sidelined her.
KeKe Nicole Smith, a senior at Dadeville High, was one of the four fatalities in a shooting Saturday, April 15, 2023. (Facebook)
Taylor told the paper Smith “was full of love.”
“Just like Phil, she was very very humble and she had this huge smile like Phil had,” he said. “She would joke around all the time, and she got onto all of us — even me. She was just full of life.”
See also: Death at birthday parties is now epidemic, John Archibald writes
Amy Jackson, a relative, posted on Facebook: “Give us strength and understanding Mighty God. Praying for all loved ones that have lost their life or were injured. We love you Ke.”
Funds have been set up to help the families of Dowdell and Smith.
Tallapoosa County Coroner Mike Knox identified the two remaining victims as Marsiah Emmanuel “Siah” Collins, 19, and Corbin Dahmontrey Holston, 23, of Dadeville.
Marsiah Collins was one of four people killed April 15, 2023, when gunfire erupted at a birthday in Dadeville. (Contributed)
Collins was a 19-year-old aspiring musician who was looking forward to attending LSU in the fall, where his father is also pursuing a law degree.
Collins’ father, Martin Collins, said his son, a former defensive end at Opelika High School, graduated in 2022 and took a year off to focus on his music career.
“He was a funny, charismatic kid who loved to light up a room. He had a lot of my mom’s personality. He could do that just being in a house.”
Just last week, Martin made arrangements to have his son move in this fall with him.
“People say guns don’t kill people. If people kill people, and we have an influx of guns around this country, then we have a people problem. We have a problem with people having access to guns. I saw a picture of a bullet that went through the building. That gun had to be high caliber.”
Corbin Holston, 23, was one of four people shot to death at a Sweet 16 birthday party in Dadeville. The gunfire also injured 28 others. (Contributed)
Holston did not attend the party but only went there to check on a younger family member who was concerned there might be trouble, his mother said.
“Out of concern for other family members, Corbin responded to the party to ensure their safety but unfortunately encountered the suspects,’’ his mother, Janett Heard, told AL.com.
“Corbin was selfless when it can to his family and friends and always tried to be a protector,’’ Heard said. “That’s just the type of person he was.”
Holston’s family addressed graphic photos and videos of the shooting’s aftermath that have been shared on some social media sites.
“We are devastated by this loss,’’ Heard said, “and we would ask that people be considerate and not share pictures, videos and misleading assumptions during this time while all families grieve and process the loss of their beloved family members.”
Bre Hutchinson, a 16-year-old Tallassee High School sophomore, has undergone one surgery and is facing another Tuesday after a bullet struck her pelvis and remains lodged in her hip.
“She’s not really showing emotion,’’ her mother said. “But she’s in a lot of pain.”
“I’m so scared and never thought I would be going through this,’’ Bre wrote on Facebook, “but I know God is on my side and he’s gone continue to bless me.”
In a video interview with ABC 33/40 from her hospital bed, Bre said, “nobody would help me so I had to like gain my strength and like walk outside after being shot.”
To the shooters, Bre’s mother says this: “You’ve got to face judgement and your punishment. God will handle it all.”
Cara Johns and Trinity Richards, two longtime friends who were cheerleaders together at Pike Road High School, were both critically injured.
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.”
Trinity Richards and Cara Johns sustained critical injuries when gunfire erupted April 15, 2023, at a birthday party in Dadeville. (Contributed)
“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.”
Taniya Cox attended a Sunday prayer vigil in a hospital gown with her right arm in a cast and told The Montgomery Advertiser she was shot twice in her right arm.
“I ran in front of a bullet and got shot. I didn’t know what was going on I just saw blood coming out of my arm,” she said.
See also: Legislators join grandfather of teen killed in Dadeville to take stand on guns
Heidi Smith, of Ivy Creek Healthcare, spoke Monday from Lake Martin Community Hospital, where 15 teens were brought in Saturday night with gunshot wounds.
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.
Community members visited the scene of an April 15 mass shooting in Dadeville, Alabama, on Sunday, April 16, 2023. Elizabeth Marsh for AL.com
Pastor Jason Whetstone, who leads the Christian Faith Fellowship, told The Associated Press the granddaughter of one of his church members was shot in the foot and underwent surgery Sunday.
“All of our hearts are hurting right now. We’re just trying to pull together to find strength and comfort,” Whetstone said.
Officials have provided no information about those sought in connection with the shooting.
An AL.com reporter who asked at the Dadeville jail on Sunday if anyone had been arrested in connection with the shooting, was told no.
From what little information has been released, it appears there may have been multiple shooters.
“I have not heard anything formally in terms of the number of suspects, motives. There’s just a lot of details that are sketchy at this time,” Tallapoosa County Commission Chairman T.C. Coley said.
Community members participated in a vigil in Dadeville, Alabama, on Sunday, April 16, 2023. A mass shooting on April 15 killed four people, according to law enforcement. Elizabeth Marsh for AL.com
“The community probably wants to make sure there’s no one around here that’s going to keep doing this,” Dadeville Mayor Jimmy Frank Goodman Sr. said.
“They want to find out whether it was someone from another town or someone who was passing through. Their minds want to be settled that it wasn’t someone from here, or even from the next town.”
‘It does not represent who we are.’
Aaron Mace, who pastors a Seventh Day Adventist Church in Sylacauga and in Alexander City, said in a place like Dadeville “events like this don’t happen, especially at this magnitude.”
The town, on the edge of Lake Martin, is not only home to residents but a home-away-from-home for people with property who frequent the area for recreation and relaxation.
Dadeville experienced a shooting in August 2016 where five people were injured at the American Legion Hall on East Columbus Street. A Goodwater man was arrested a few weeks later, according to WSFA.
A bloody handprint can be seen as fire fighters use a hose to wash down the scene of a shooting Saturday night at the Mahogany Masterpiece dance studio on April 16, 2023 in Dadeville. (Photo by Megan Varner/Getty Images)Getty Images
Tallapoosa County School Superintendent Raymond Porter said the shooting “does not represent our community. It does not represent our children. And it does not represent who we are.”
“I ask you to keep my police department in your prayers. Please do not let this moment define what you think of the City of Dadeville and our fine people. What we’ve dealt with is something no community should have to endure,” said Dadeville Police Chief Jonathan Floyd.
Maery Beth Turner, a mother of a Dadeville High student, attended a vigil and was not surprised at the massive turnout.
See also: Experts share how to talk to children after shootings, traumatic events
“It’s amazing,” Turner said. “It’s beautiful. It’s Dadeville. This is how it’s like on Friday nights or at the basketball games, baseball, band concerts.”
The shooting, reportedly the latest among nine dozen mass shootings in Alabama since 2013, sent shockwaves far beyond the typically serene community.
“Our nation is once again grieving for at least four Americans tragically killed at a teen’s birthday party in Dadeville, Alabama,” President Joe Biden said Sunday.
“What has our nation come to when children cannot attend a birthday party without fear?” Biden said. “When parents have to worry every time their kids walk out the door to school, to the movie theater, or to the park? Guns are the leading killer of children in America, and the numbers are rising - not declining.”
“I grieve with the people of Dadeville and my fellow Alabamians,” Gov. Kay Ivey said in a tweet. “Violent crime has NO place in our state, and we are staying closely updated by law enforcement as details emerge.”
Adriana Pearson and daughter Skyla Garcia listen as community members hold a prayer event following a shooting at the Mahogany Masterpiece dance studio on April 16, 2023 in Dadeville. (Photo by Megan Varner/Getty Images)Getty Images
“My heart is so heavy to hear the news,” Rep. Terri Sewell tweeted. “Week after week, we mourn loss of life from senseless violence and I ask my colleagues how many more will it take? How much more death will it take before you believe enough is enough.”
Sunday evening, a crowd overflowed the parking lot of the First Baptist Church seeking comfort and strength.
“This wound will take a good while, forever to heal,” said Rick Lance, lead state missionary for Alabama Baptists, one of the ministers who spoke and led the crowd in prayer. “We will never forget this. This is a 9/11 moment for all of us here.”
“Four of our friends are dead. Twenty or more are wounded,” First Baptist Senior Pastor Ben Hayes told the crowd.
“As Dr. Lance said, we will never be the same.”
AL.com journalists Ruth Serven Smith and Ben Thomas contributed to this report.
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