Topline
At least seven guns were used in the Dadeville, Alabama, mass shooting that left four dead and 32 injured earlier this month, an agent with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency testified Tuesday during a hearing to determine if the three of the six suspects would be held without bail until trial, multiple news outlets reported.
Investigators work at the site of a fatal shooting in downtown Dadeville, Ala., on Sunday, April 16, … [+]
Key Facts
Special Agent Jess Thornton of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency testified that 89 shell casings were left on the floor of Mahogany’s Masterpiece dance studio in Dadeville where the Sweet 16 birthday party took place, AL.com reported.
The seven guns used in the deadly shooting were of four different calibers, NBC News reported, with police only recovering one weapon so far.
One of the victims of the shooting appeared to have a gun placed on his chest after he was killed, Thorton testified according to NBC.
Three of the six defendants—Willie George Brown Jr., 19, Johnny Letron Brown, 20, and Wilson LaMar Hill Jr., 20—were in court Tuesday for a judge to determine if the suspects would be held without bail until trial, and reportedly said he would decide in the next 24 to 48 hours.
All six suspects, including Ty Reik McCullough, 17, Travis McCullough, 16 and an unnamed 15-year-old, are charged with four counts of reckless murder.
Thornton testified that five of the six defendants, excluding Willie George Brown Jr., told police they fired guns at the party, NBC reported.
Police have yet to offer any details about a motive for the shooting or the suspects’ connection to the birthday party.
Key Background
Tuesday’s testimony provided some of the first details of what happened on April 15. Before Tuesday, the limited information publicly released included the names of the four deceased victims—Philstavious “Phil” Dowdell, 18, Marsiah Emmanuel Collins, 19, Shaunkivia “Keke” Nicole Smith, 17, and Corbin Dahmontrey Holston, 23—and some information about the weapons used during the shooting. In the aftermath of the shooting, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said investigators found no high-powered rifle ammunition at the scene, but did say they recovered “numerous” shell casing used in handguns. The shooting happened just after 10:30 p.m. at a local dance studio in Dadeville, where Alexis Dowdell was having her Sweet 16 birthday party. Authorities have said about 50 to 60 people were in attendance when the shooting took place.
Tangent
While Alexis Dowdell survived the shooting, her brother Phil Dowdell did not, and in interviews since, she’s credited him with saving her life. In an interview with the BBC, Alexis Dowdell said when the shooting began, her brother pushed her to the ground, and it wasn’t until she later went back inside that she discovered her brother was shot: “The last thing I told him was to stay strong.” Their mother, LaTonya Allen, , was shot twice during the incident but survived. At one point during the party, Allen said she heard a rumor someone brought a gun to the celebration and stopped the music, turned on the lights and made an announcement asking anyone with a gun to leave the party, she recounted to CNN. The shooting started shortly after.
Further Reading
Fifth Suspect Arrested After Deadly Alabama Birthday Shooting (Forbes)
3 Suspects Finally Arrested In Alabama Mass Shooting—Including 2 Teens (Forbes)
Dadeville Shooting Leaves 4 Dead, 32 Injured: Here’s What We Know—And Don’t Know—About Alabama Mass Shooting (Forbes)
Alabama Shooting: 4 Killed, 28 Injured At Birthday Party In Dadeville (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/anafaguy/2023/04/25/at-least-7-guns-and-89-shell-casings-recovered-after-alabama-birthday-shooting/