All four slain in Saturday’s mass Shooting in Alabama have been identified – as cops handling the probe into their deaths have revealed the suspect responsible is no longer at-large.
Tallapoosa County Coroner Mike Knox identified the two remaining victims Monday as 19 year-old Marsiah Emmanuel ‘Siah’ Collins and Corbin Dahmontrey Holston, 23.
Both men resided in Dadeville, and were among 50 or so present when shots rang out at the town’s dance studio where local teen Alexis Dowdell had been celebrating her 16th birthday.
Also slain was Dowdell’s brother Philstavious, a high school football standout who had recently committed to Jacksonville State University. A fourth victim, also a senior at the local high school, was identified as Keke Smith.
The three teens had all planning on attending college in the fall, and set to graduate in a matter of weeks.
Philstavious and Smith were already revealed to be among the dead on Sunday, after several who knew the youngsters offered statements to the media as residents continue to look for answers as to what exactly happened Saturday night.
The shots rang out at a dance studio where a teen had been celebrating her 16th birthday Saturday, with one of the four slain being her football star brother Philstavious Dowdwell (at left). The other victim, also a senior, was identified as Keke Smith
Still unexplained, the shooting left two others dead and at least 28 injured, and has subsequently left the small town of roughly 3,000 looking for answers
A DJ who worked the party provided more details on what transpired Saturday, revealing that earlier rumors had been spreading that someone in attendance had a gun
In total, the shooting left four dead and at least 28 injured, and has subsequently left the small town of roughly 3,000 looking for answers.
Late Sunday, police provided an update – one that may have gave some new insight to the fate of whoever fired the hail of bullets.
Moreover, a DJ who worked the party provided more details on what actually transpired when the shots rang out Saturday night, revealing that earlier rumors had been spreading amongst party-goers that someone in attendance had a gun.
Speaking to reporters Sunday evening, Sgt. Jeremy Burkett with the ALEA confirmed the number of victims at four, while revealing many of the injured remain hospitalized in critical condition.
He did not identify a suspect nor confirm that cops have made an arrest – however, he said the person is ‘no longer a threat to the community.’
The comments came news conference on Sunday evening – but did not provide a possible motive behind the shooting. A preliminary investigation carried out by the local police found the shootout may have been the result of a physical altercation.
Cops handed the investigation over the death investigation to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) around midnight Sunday, who later in the day confirmed the death toll in a statement.
Aside from that – and the fact the shooting transpired at a birthday party – cops have kept mum on any other details surrounding the shooting, with only two victims identified through witness accounts.
Both of those named, including Dadeville High School senior Philstavious, were teens. A second victim, KeKe Smith, was also identified Sunday.
Earlier in the day, state investigators probing the shooting confirmed in a statement that there had been four fatalities, but provided little new information.
Burkett, however, revealed that a total of 28 were injured, including at least 15 teenagers.
That said, details surrounding the incident are still sparse, with officials only confirming the gunfire erupted at roughly 10:34pm Saturday at the Mahogany Masterpiece on North Broadnax Street.
Speaking to local ABC affiliate WBMA, Keenan Cooper, the DJ at the deadly Dadeville birthday party, described how roughly an hour before, word began to spread among attendees on the dance floor that someone in attendance had a gun.
As police continue to piece together what happened Saturday night, an officer overseeing the investigation provided an update that may have provided a hint as to the fate of the suspect
Both of those named, including the Dadeville High School senior, were teens. A second victim, Smith (seen here with her mother), was also identified Sunday
Dowdell, a high school football standout in Dadeville, Alabama, was among four killed in a mass shooting Saturday – an incident that saw more than 20 shot in total
A bloody handprint marks a pillar the day after a shooting at a during a teenager’s birthday party at Mahogany Masterpiece Dance Studio in Dadeville, Alabama
‘It wasn’t anything you could pretty much see because the lights were off,’ Cooper recalled, still stationed near the cordoned-off crime scene Sunday.
‘They mentioned someone had a gun. They stopped the party for a second, asked them to leave, nobody left and the party continued.’
Roughly an hour later, the first shots rang out – sending the 50 or so people who had been in attendance into a frenzy. He said he helped teens hide under the table where he was doing his DJ set.
‘I only tried to help who was in front of me, so I had a lot of people under the table and beside me trying to protect them.
‘After everybody ran out, I made sure they were ok and that’s when I came out and the police arrived. I’m just distraught for the kids.’
Earlier in the day, state investigators probing the shooting confirmed in a statement that there had been four fatalities, with relatives unmasking two of them as Dowdell and Smith.
Dowdell had been awarded a full scholarship to Jacksonville State in February, and was the first victim to be formally identified.
On Sunday, the boy’s grandmother, Annette Allen, remembered her relative as a kind-hearted individual who never caused trouble for anyone, and always had a ‘million-dollar smile’.
The shooting took place Dadeville, a tiny town of 3,000 an hour’s drive from Montgomery
The teen (at middle) was awarded a full scholarship to Jacksonville State back this past February, and is the first victim to be formally identified
Fire fighters wash down the scene of the shooting
Details surrounding the incident are still sparse, officials have confirmed that the gunfire erupted at roughly 10:34pm Saturday at the Mahogany Masterpiece on North Broadnax Street
Cops did not provide an update Sunday on the condition of Dowdell’s younger sister Alexis (pictured), whose birthday party was interrupted by the rage of gunfire
Dowdell, a senior set to graduate in a matter of weeks, had been celebrating his sister Alexis’ (seen with the victim at left) birthday Saturday night at Mahogany Masterpiece dance studio in Dadeville when the first shots rang out – following what police suspect was a fight
The teen (at middle) is the first victim to be formally identified. He is seen committing to the school with a signing accompanied by his family – including his sister, seen second from right
Dowdell, who also ran track and played basketball, is being remembered by relatives as a kind-hearted individual who never caused trouble for anyone
‘He was a very, very humble child,’ Allen told the Montgomery Advertiser moments after the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) confirmed the death toll in a statement Sunday morning.
‘Never messed with anybody. Always had a smile on his face.’
Allen confirmed he had been attending a party held by his sister Alexis – also a student at the local high school – for her 16th. The children’s mother was also there and sustained two gunshot wounds, Allen said. Her condition is currently unknown.
‘Everybody’s grieving,’ Allen said.
Relatives of the other 20-something people injured, meanwhile, continue to wait for updates on their hospitalized loved ones, with cops now stationed across the community telling people to remain strong.
But as of Monday, cops have yet to issue a formal statement on the victims or shooter, with Burkett Sunday only saying the town was no longer at risk.
‘This is going to be a long, complicated process,’ Burkett said Sunday, adding that the scene is still being processed and that a methodical investigation is currently being conducted.
‘This is a very fluid situation,’ he said Sunday. ‘We are still trying to confirm everyone who was at the scene.’
Local police initially did not provide any updates as to the number of victims or those injured for more than 10 hours, until an update from the ALEA around 9am revealed four had died
On Sunday morning, the crime scene remained cordoned off – with a tarp hanging over the glass front door of the dance establishment on N. Broadnax Street
Witness accounts indicate that most of those injured were teenagers, with Dadeville cops initially airing the belief the attack stemmed from some sort of physical altercation
Dowdell (center), seen here after a track event earlier this year, had been awarded a full football scholarship this past February. He was also an honor student, his coach revealed, who played basketball and won state honors in track last year
The Superintendent of Tallapoosa County, the district that presides over the siblings’ school, confirmed Sunday that local students had attended the party
