In Alabama, a fourth arrest has been made in a birthday party shooting

A fourth suspect in a shooting at a birthday party in Dadeville, Alabama, was arrested and charged with murder at the same time as a high school freshman

DADEVILLE, Ala. — A fourth suspect was arrested Thursday and charged with murder in connection with a shooting at a Sweet 16 birthday party that killed four young people in Alabama, authorities announced.

There will be trials for the two teens as adults, according to the Tallapoosa County District Attorney. It’s required of anyone over the age of 16 charged with murder in Alabama.

They didn’t say if they’re related. Segrest said prosecutors would ask a judge to hold them without bail. A bond hearing must be held by Friday under Alabama law. Online court records do not show any previous adult charges in state court for either of the arrested teens.

The birthday girl’s younger brother, Philstavious “Phil” Dowdell, died in her arms. He and another victim, 17-year-old Shaunkivia Nicole “KeKe” Smith of Dadeville, were high school seniors. The families were left to plan funerals, instead of graduation celebrations.

Marsiah Collins, a 19 year old from the state of Alabama, was one of the three people killed. Four people are in critical condition, and another 32 have been wounded. He said more charges would be coming.

“We’re going to make sure every one of those victims has justice, not just the deceased,” Segrest said, speaking to reporters from the steps of the Tallapoosa County courthouse.

Alabama birthday party shooting shooting teens arrested davilleville, Fla. Source: Alexis Dowdell and Amy Jackson

Alexis Dowdell’s birthday party was being held at a dance studio just off the town square. Witnesses said multiple people began shooting some time after her mother paused the celebration to ask people with guns to leave.

It doesn’t make the hurt any easier. Amy Jackson said in a phone interview that they are relieved that the suspects aren’t in the community.

Phil Dowdell was a star wide receiver with plans to play college football at Jacksonville State University. Smith became a team manager when she was able to return from a knee injury. Collins, a 2020 graduate of the high school, had taken a year off to study music and was planning to start college in the fall. Holston was a 2018 Dadeville High graduate and former athlete at the school.

Grand jurors meet in Tallapoosa County in the spring and autumn, but the district attorney said he would recall grand jurors if there was an indictment before September. The grand jury will be asked to come back in if we are prepared to present the facts.

Source: https://www.npr.org/2023/04/19/1170875258/alabama-birthday-party-shooting-teens-arrested-dadeville

The Mississippi Shooting in Tuskegee, Maine, is the 16th mass killing in the state of emergency medicine in the U.S.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency had said only that shell casings from handguns had been found, noting that there was no evidence a high-powered rifle was used. Burkett again appealed for information from attendees and the public.

Burkett said that he is tired of it and everybody behind him is tired of it. “We’re tired of going to the mothers and having to tell them that these kids are not coming home.”

Johnny Letron Brown, 20, of Tuskegee, is charged with for counts of reckless murder, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said. Four people are facing reckless murder charges in connection to a fatal shooting.

The shooting is the 16th mass killing in the US this year. A 17th took place in Maine on Tuesday. A total of 88 people have died in the killings so far in 2023.

A mass killing is defined as the slaying of four or more people other than the perpetrator, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.