Two teen boys charged with four murders after 'sweet 16' birthday party massacre
Two teenage brothers have been charged with four counts of reckless murder after gunfire at a sweet 16 birthday party killed four young people and injured 32 more.
17-year-old Ty Reik McCullough, and 16-year-old Travis McCullough, both of Tuskegee were arrested by special agents with Alabama Law Enforcement Agency's (ALEA) SBI. It is believed the pair are brothers.
The shooting happened on Saturday, April 15, in Dadeville, Alabama, about a 40 minute drive from Tuskegee. Gunfire was heard shortly after 10.30pm at the Mahogany Masterpiece Dance Studio where a birthday party was said to be taking place.
Sergeant Jeremy Burkett of ALEA told a press conference on Wednesday, April 19, that a motive for the shooting has been determined, but details will not be shared publicly at this time.
Tallapoosa County Coroner Mike Knox confirmed the four victims killed as Philstavious Dowdell, 18, Corbin Dahmontrey Holston, 23, Shaunkivia Nicole Smith, 17, and Marsiah Emmanuel Collins, 19.
Teen 'kept as slave, starved and beaten' sues adoptive parents and authorities
Keke Nicole Smith (pictured left) was one of the four people killed in the massacre at Alexis Dowdell's birthday party (wftv)The two teens, Ty and Travis, will be charged as adults according to District Attorney (DA) Mike Segrest, he added prosecutors would ask a judge to hold them without bail.
Under Alabama law, a bond hearing must be held by Friday.
Sgt Burkett said at the press conference on Wednesday: "Please understand, with the violence that went on and the magnitude of what happened, we are absolutely still in the early stages of the investigation.
"This is the beginning, this is not the end. There is a tremendous amount of work that is yet to be done."
DA Segrest said four people remained in hospital in critical condition, and more charges would be forthcoming.
"We're going to make sure all those victims have justice, not just the deceased," Segrest said.
Mourners attend a vigil at the First Baptist Church of Dadeville following the shooting (Getty Images)Announcing the developments in the case, Mr Segrest became emotional - explaining some of the victims were friends' children.
"These's an uncut cake and unburnt birthday candles that never got lit," he said.
"I know some of these victims personally... These are my kids, these are our kids, you won't mess with our kids."
Mr Segrest explained that while grand jurors typically met in Tallapoosa County in March and September, he would recall grand jurors to seek an indictment before September.
Death fears for Emmerdale's Sarah as teen rushed to A&E after exposing secret
"If we can establish the facts, we will be asking our grand jury to come back in."
The ALEA said only shell casing from handguns had been found at the scene. They noted there was no evidence of a high-powered rifle being used.
In a statement, ALEA said: "Special Agents with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency's (ALEA) State Bureau of Inestigation (SBI), have arrested Ty Reik McCullough, 17, of Tuskegee and Travis McCullough, 16, also of Tuskegee.
A bloody handprint can be seen as fire fighters wash down the scene of the shooting at the Mahogany Masterpiece dance studio (Getty Images)"Both individuals were formally charged with four counts of Reckless Murder.
"These individuals have been charged after a complex and thorough investigation was conducted with assistance from a multitude of law enforcement agencies, following the shooting that occurred on Saturday, April 15, near the 200 Block of Broadnax Street in Dadeville, located in Tallapoosa County. The shooting resulted in four fatalities and 32 individuals injured."
Investigators have repeatedly appealed for information from the public, including pictures and videos from the party.
The party was reportedly a 'sweet 16' for one of the victim's sisters.
Philstavious Dowdell was a high school football standout in Dadeville, Alabama (wftv)
Corbin Dahmontrey Holston, 23, reportedly went to check on a family member who feared troubleThe party for Alexis Dowdell was being held at the dance studio just off the town's courthouse square.
Witnesses said multiple people began shooting after Dowdell's mother paused the celebration to ask anyone with a gun to leave.
Philstavious 'Phil' Dowdell, the birthday girl's brother, died in his sister's arms.
Phil was a star wide receiver, set to go to Jacksonville State on a football scholarship.
He and another victim, Shaunkivia Nicole 'KeKe' Smith, were both high school seniors.
Their families are now planning funerals and memorials instead of graduation ceremonies.
Phil's grandmother, Anette Allen, described him as "a very, very humble child."
She said he: "Never messed with anybody. Always had a smile on his face."
A family member of KeKe Smith said she was thankful for the arrests.
"It don't make the hurt any easier," Amy Jackson said. "But we are relieved that [the suspects] are not out in the community."
Two other young men were also killed in the mass shooting.
19 year-old Marsiah Emmanuel 'Siah' Collins was killed in the mass shooting
This undated photo provided by the family of Phil Dowdell shows from left, Zaniriah Dowdell, Latonya Allen, Alexis Dowdell and Phil Dowdell. (AP)Marsiah Emmanual 'Siah' Collins, 19, was a 2022 Opelika High School graduate and aspiring singer who planned to start college this year.
23-year-old Corbin Dahmontrey Holston was a 2018 Dadeville High graduate and another former athlete at the school.
Holston had reportedly gone to the party to check on a family member who was worried there may be trouble.
His mother, Janett Heard, told AL.com: "Out of concern for other family members, Corbin responded to the party to ensure their safety but unfortuantely encountered the suspects.
"Corbin was selfless when it came to his family and friends and always tried to be a protector. That's just the type of person he was."
Pastor Ben Hayes said at the time of the shooting: "This is a good family in our community, good kids. Some of the best people heading to this party."
In a press conference following the shooting, Sergeant Jeremy Burkett with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) said: "There were four lives, not fatalities, lives; there were four lives tragically lost in this incident and there's been a multitude of injuries."
He went on to say: "This is a fine city, a fine county, and absolutely amazing state and we are not going to allow one tragedy to define us."
This echoed hearfelt words from Dadeville Police Chief Jonathan Floyd, who said: "One thing I want you to know about the city of Dadeville, the city of Dadeville is a tight-knit community full of wonderful people.
"I ask you to please keep our community in your prayers, and ask you to keep my police department in your prayers.
"I also ask each of you, please do not let this moment define what you think about the city of Dadeville and our fine people.
"What we've dealt with is something that no community should have to endure."
Sgt Burkett wouldn't say where the two suspects are being jailed, or whether they were already in custody when they were charged in realtion to the case.
In 2020, Alabama had the fifth highest rate of gun deaths in the country, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
