Police establish victims at celebration
DADEVILLE, Ala. – A small neighborhood was grieving the lack of 4 younger individuals in a taking pictures at a Candy 16 celebration over the weekend.
The victims, all Alabama natives of their late teenagers or early 20s, died after gunfire erupted at Mahogany Masterpiece dance studio Saturday night time. On Monday, authorities mentioned the variety of injured within the taking pictures had elevated from 28 to 32.
On Monday, Tallapoosa County Coroner Mike Knox confirmed to the Montgomery Advertiser, a part of the USA TODAY Community, the identities of the 4 individuals killed.
Directors at Dadeville Excessive, the place a few of the victims went to highschool, expressed condolences for the neighborhood through social media and supplied assets to college students who misplaced their classmates and buddies.
“We’re deeply saddened to listen to concerning the current taking pictures incident that occurred. Our ideas and prayers exit to the scholars, college and households affected by this tragic occasion,” the college’s Fb put up learn. “Our faculty counselors and clergy are right here to offer steering and help to anybody who wants it.”
Right here’s what we learn about who the victims had been:
ALABAMA SHOOTING UPDATES:Victims recognized as police nonetheless seek for shooter, motive
Philstavious ‘Phil’ Dowdell, 18
A senior at Dadeville Excessive, Philstavious Dowdell was simply weeks away from his Could 25 commencement when he died. He was on the dance studio downtown to rejoice his youthful sister’s birthday.
Dowdell was a star athlete who performed soccer and basketball and ran observe on the college. He had dedicated earlier this 12 months to play soccer at Jacksonville State College.
The day earlier than the taking pictures, Dowdell competed within the Troy College Observe and Area Invitational Meet, successful second place within the 200-meter sprint.
“He was a really, very humble youngster,” his grandmother Annette Allen mentioned. “By no means messed with anyone. At all times had a smile on his face.”
Antojuan Woody, from the close by city of Camp Hill, was a fellow vast receiver with Dowdell on the Dadeville Tigers soccer workforce. He mentioned he and Dowdell had been lifelong greatest buddies.
Woody described the victims “as nice individuals who didn’t deserve what occurred to them.”
Dowdell’s mom LaTonya Allen created a GoFundMe on Monday to gather “love choices” for her son.
“These provides will assist serve the household’s sudden bills within the upcoming weeks as we put together to put our son to relaxation,” Allen wrote.
Shaunkivia ‘KeKe’ Nicole Smith, 17
Smith was additionally a Dadeville Excessive senior closing in on commencement. She performed volleyball and softball on the college, liked vogue, and was planning to attend the College of Alabama within the fall.
Also called “KeKe,” Smith was enthusiastic about commencement and sometimes reminded a neighbor of the precise second it was presupposed to occur. She shared selfies taken in her cap and robe, writing “nearly out.”
Amy Jackson, a primary cousin as soon as eliminated who mentioned she felt extra like Smith’s aunt, described her as good, well-rounded, and all the time prepared with a type phrase.
Jackson described Smith as a proficient athlete earlier than a knee damage sidelined her. However Smith then jumped in to function a workforce supervisor.
“She was like a ray of sunshine … all the time smiling,” Jackson mentioned. “She wasn’t a damaging individual. She all the time discovered one thing optimistic.”
Earlier than leaving for the celebration Saturday, Smith’s final was to get her little sister prepared for mattress.
“That was her nature. She was a caretaker,” Jackson mentioned.
Marsiah ‘Siah’ Emmanuel Collins, 19
Collins was a 19-year-old from Opelika, Alabama, 27 miles southeast of Dadeville. He performed soccer and ran within the 200-meter and 400-meter races at Opelika Excessive College, serving to the observe workforce win the 6A state championship in 2021.
He was additionally a musician who launched songs on YouTube and different platforms below the stage title 224A Siah. After taking a niche 12 months, Collins was planning to attend Louisiana State College within the fall.
“My son was humorous and clever, athletic and proficient,” mentioned his father, Martin Edward. “He liked to make his music and play sports activities.”
Edward mentioned his son had an optimistic future forward of him.
“He was inquisitive and a loyal, extraordinarily respectful and well mannered. He was a scholar,” Edward mentioned.
Corbin Dahmontrey Holston, 23
Holston was from Dadeville and graduated from Dadeville Excessive in 2018. Based on his social media accounts, he was residing in Birmingham earlier than he died.
Holston’s mom, Janett Heard, advised AL.com her son didn’t attend the celebration however was there to test on the protection of a youthful member of the family.
“Corbin was selfless when it could to his household and buddies and all the time tried to be a protector,’’ Heard mentioned. “That’s simply the kind of individual he was.”
Contributing: The Related Press
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