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| Two arrested and charged with murder over Alabama shooting that killed four | Two arrested and charged with murder over Alabama shooting that killed four |
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| Investigators make announcement following deadly shooting at 16th birthday party in small town of Dadeville on Saturday | Investigators make announcement following deadly shooting at 16th birthday party in small town of Dadeville on Saturday |
| Two people were arrested and charged with murder in connection with a shooting that killed four people at a Sweet 16 birthday party in Alabama last weekend, investigators announced on Wednesday. | Two people were arrested and charged with murder in connection with a shooting that killed four people at a Sweet 16 birthday party in Alabama last weekend, investigators announced on Wednesday. |
| It was the first police news conference since the day after the shooting, which happened on Saturday. The district attorney, Mike Segrest, said the pair would be charged as adults and prosecutors would ask a judge to hold them without bail. | It was the first police news conference since the day after the shooting, which happened on Saturday. The district attorney, Mike Segrest, said the pair would be charged as adults and prosecutors would ask a judge to hold them without bail. |
| News outlets identified the suspects as Ty Reik McCullough, 17, and Travis McCullough, 16, both of Tuskeegee, Alabama. Under Alabama law, a bond hearing must be held by Friday. | News outlets identified the suspects as Ty Reik McCullough, 17, and Travis McCullough, 16, both of Tuskeegee, Alabama. Under Alabama law, a bond hearing must be held by Friday. |
| Segrest said four people remained in hospital in critical condition and more charges would be coming, adding: “We’re going to make sure all those victims have justice, not just the deceased.” | Segrest said four people remained in hospital in critical condition and more charges would be coming, adding: “We’re going to make sure all those victims have justice, not just the deceased.” |
| The violence shocked Dadeville, a sleepy town of 3,200. In addition to the four young people who were killed, 32 were wounded, some critically, when shooting broke out at a birthday party for Alexis Dowdell, at a dance studio just off the courthouse square. Witnesses said multiple people began shooting some time after Dowdell’s mother asked people with guns to leave. | The violence shocked Dadeville, a sleepy town of 3,200. In addition to the four young people who were killed, 32 were wounded, some critically, when shooting broke out at a birthday party for Alexis Dowdell, at a dance studio just off the courthouse square. Witnesses said multiple people began shooting some time after Dowdell’s mother asked people with guns to leave. |
| The birthday girl’s brother, Philstavious “Phil” Dowdell, died in his sister’s arms. | The birthday girl’s brother, Philstavious “Phil” Dowdell, died in his sister’s arms. |
| “[You’re] strong. Don’t give up on me,” Alexis told her brother shortly before he died, CNN reported. | “[You’re] strong. Don’t give up on me,” Alexis told her brother shortly before he died, CNN reported. |
| Dowdell had earned a scholarship to play football at Jacksonville State University, Keenan Cooper, a DJ a the party, told CNN. | Dowdell had earned a scholarship to play football at Jacksonville State University, Keenan Cooper, a DJ a the party, told CNN. |
| The other people killed were Shaunkivia Nicole “KeKe” Smith, 17, an athlete turned team manager and another Dadeville high school senior; a 2022 Opelika high school graduate, Marsiah Emmanuel “Siah” Collins, 19, an aspiring singer who planned to start college this fall; and a 2018 Dadeville high school graduate, Corbin Dahmontrey Holston, 23, and another former athlete. | |
| Holston had gone to the party to check on a younger family member who feared trouble, his mother, Janett Heard, told AL.com. Relatives told the news outlet the shooting began shortly after Holston arrived, and that he pulled his younger relative to safety. | Holston had gone to the party to check on a younger family member who feared trouble, his mother, Janett Heard, told AL.com. Relatives told the news outlet the shooting began shortly after Holston arrived, and that he pulled his younger relative to safety. |
| On Wednesday, Sgt Jeremy J Burkett of the Alabama law enforcement agency would not say where the two arrested people were being jailed, or if they were in custody when they were charged. | On Wednesday, Sgt Jeremy J Burkett of the Alabama law enforcement agency would not say where the two arrested people were being jailed, or if they were in custody when they were charged. |
| “We can’t get into a motive right now, because that would be part of an ongoing investigation,” Burkett said. “We can’t share that.” | “We can’t get into a motive right now, because that would be part of an ongoing investigation,” Burkett said. “We can’t share that.” |
| Segrest said grand jurors typically meet in Tallapoosa county in March and September, but he said he would recall them to seek an indictment before September. | Segrest said grand jurors typically meet in Tallapoosa county in March and September, but he said he would recall them to seek an indictment before September. |
| “If we can establish the facts, we will be asking our grand jury to come back in,” he said. | “If we can establish the facts, we will be asking our grand jury to come back in,” he said. |
| The Alabama law enforcement agency has said shell casings from handguns were found, noting that there was no evidence a high-powered rifle was used. Police have urged members of the public to assist with the investigation. | The Alabama law enforcement agency has said shell casings from handguns were found, noting that there was no evidence a high-powered rifle was used. Police have urged members of the public to assist with the investigation. |
| Burkett said: “If you were at the venue that night – so you were physically at the venue – if you have not come forward, meaning you have not contacted law enforcement, please hear me, I absolutely want you to do that. | Burkett said: “If you were at the venue that night – so you were physically at the venue – if you have not come forward, meaning you have not contacted law enforcement, please hear me, I absolutely want you to do that. |
| “We need you to come forward for the families, for these victims.” | “We need you to come forward for the families, for these victims.” |
| The Dadeville police chief, Jonathan Floyd, asked for patience. | The Dadeville police chief, Jonathan Floyd, asked for patience. |
| “If we hurry, if we’re careless and we do make an arrest but it doesn’t result in a conviction, it does not result in ultimate justice for our victims, then we’ve failed our victims,” he said. | “If we hurry, if we’re careless and we do make an arrest but it doesn’t result in a conviction, it does not result in ultimate justice for our victims, then we’ve failed our victims,” he said. |
| In 2020, Alabama had the fifth-highest rate of gun deaths in the US, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. | In 2020, Alabama had the fifth-highest rate of gun deaths in the US, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. |
| The Gun Violence Archive, a non-profit, defines a mass shooting as one in which four people are shot or killed, excluding the shooter. As of Tuesday, it said there had been 165 such events in the US this year. | The Gun Violence Archive, a non-profit, defines a mass shooting as one in which four people are shot or killed, excluding the shooter. As of Tuesday, it said there had been 165 such events in the US this year. |
| Associated Press contributed reporting | Associated Press contributed reporting |
| Associated Press contributed reporting | Associated Press contributed reporting |