Two people were arrested for the deadly shooting at an Alabama birthday party that left four dead and 32 injured over the weekend.
The deadly shooting took place at a large Sweet 16 party in the small town of Dadeville on Saturday, April 16.
The four victims killed were identified as Philstavious Dowdell, 18, Shaunkivia Nicole Smith, 17, Marsiah Emmanuel Collins, 19, and Corbin Dahmontrey Holston, 23.
On Wednesday, Alabama officials announced they had two suspects in custody. The suspects were identified as two brothers, Ty Reik McCullough, 17, and Travis McCullough, 16.
They were arrested by Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) officers around 8.00pm Tuesday, and were each charged with four counts of reckless murder.
‘Make no mistake – this is Alabama. and when you pull out a gun and start shooting people, we’ll put you in jail,’ ALEA Sgt Jeremy Burkett said at a press conference on Wednesday.
Burkett thanked the community of Dadeville for providing the evidence and testimony that allowed them to identify the shooters. He also asked attendees to keep speaking to investigators.
‘We need you to come forward for these families, for these victims,’ Burkett said.
District Attorney Michael Segrest said that prosecutors would be charging the two teenagers as adults.
Investigators declined to comment on a possible motive for the shooting. They also could not reveal how many weapons were used or recovered by the shooters.
Prosecutors said that more charges were expected, primarily related to the other individuals injured at or attending the party.
We’re going to make sure all those victims have justice, not just the deceased,’ Segrest said. ‘There were so many kids in this venue. And what they saw – they’re victims in this.’
The district attorney said Alexis Dowdell, the 16-year-old who threw the party, was one of these victims. Although she was uninjured, her 18-year-old brother Phil Dowdell was shot and killed.
‘There’s an uncut cake, unburnt 16 candles that never got lit,’ he said. ‘Lexi’s brother was one of the victims. At her 16th birthday party, she knelt by her brother as he took his last breath.’
Both McCullough brothers are scheduled to appear before a judge for a bond hearing on Friday. Segrest said that his office would be requesting the judge to withhold bail.
This is a developing news story, more to follow soon… Check back shortly for further updates.
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