By JEFF AMY and KIM CHANDLER (Associated Press)
DADEVILLE, Ala. (AP) — A highschool senior who deliberate to play faculty soccer was celebrating at his sister’s sixteenth party Saturday night time in Alabama when gunfire killed him and three different folks and wounded a number of others.
Police had been gathering proof Sunday at a dance studio the place the social gathering was held in downtown Dadeville. They didn’t instantly say if a suspect was in custody, or in the event that they knew extra about any motivation.
Philstavious “Phil” Dowdell, a Dadeville High School senior who had dedicated to Jacksonville State University, was celebrating at his sister Alexis’ social gathering earlier than he was shot to demise, his grandmother Annette Allen advised The Montgomery Advertiser.
“He was a very, very humble child. Never messed with anybody. Always had a smile on his face,” Allen advised the newspaper, calling it “a million-dollar smile.”
Dowdell’s mom was amongst these damage within the capturing.
“Everybody’s grieving,” Allen mentioned.
Sgt. Jeremy Burkett of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency mentioned the capturing occurred about 10:30 p.m. Saturday.
“There were four lives tragically lost in this incident, and there’s been a multitude of injuries,” Burkett mentioned throughout a information convention Sunday.
The shootings rocked the town of three,200 residents, which is about 57 miles (92 kilometers) northeast of Montgomery, Alabama.
Dadeville Police Chief Jonathan L. Floyd paused to regain his composure earlier than talking on the information convention.
“What we’ve dealt with is something that no community should have to endure. I just ask for your patience. It’s going to be a long process, but I do earnestly solicit your prayers,” Floyd mentioned.
More than 12 hours after the capturing, investigators continued submitting out and in of the Mahogany Masterpiece dance studio, denoted by a banner hanging on the surface of a one-story brick constructing in Dadeville’s compact downtown. City and county officers milled in regards to the Tallapoosa County Courthouse lower than a block away, the place officers lowered the American and Alabama flags to half employees.
Dadeville Mayor Frank Goodman mentioned he was in mattress asleep when a council member referred to as him simply earlier than 11 p.m. Saturday. He mentioned he went to Lake Martin Community Hospital in Dadeville, the place a few of the individuals who had been shot had been taken.
“It was chaotic,” Goodman mentioned. “There were people running around. They were crying and screaming. There were police cars everywhere, there were ambulances everywhere. People were trying to find out about their loved ones. That was scene, where we never had anything like this happen in our city before.”
Pastor Ben Hayes, who serves as chaplain for the Dadeville Police Department and for the native highschool soccer crew, mentioned many of the victims are youngsters. Dowdell was inside weeks of commencement and confronted a shiny future, Hayes advised The Associated Press.
“He was a strong competitor on the field,” Hayes mentioned. “You didn’t want to try to tackle him or get tackled by him. But when he came off the field, he was one of the nicest young men that you could ever meet, very respectful and well-respected by his peers.”
Hayes mentioned frightened households swarmed the native hospital Saturday night time looking for the situation of their kids. He mentioned critical crime is uncommon in Dadeville, and the small metropolis is “sad, traumatized, in-shock.”
Jacksonville State soccer coach Rich Rodriguez mentioned in an announcement Sunday: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Philstavious Dowdell and the other victims of the senseless tragedy last night. He was a great young man with a bright future. My staff and I are heartbroken and hope that everyone will support his family through this difficult time.”
Dowdell additionally just lately received medals at a highschool monitor meet at Troy University.
Counseling will likely be out there for college students at Tallapoosa County faculties Monday, mentioned the college district superintendent, Raymond C. Porter.
“This morning, I grieve with the people of Dadeville and my fellow Alabamians. Violent crime has NO place in our state, and we are staying closely updated by law enforcement as details emerge,” Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey mentioned in an announcement on social media.
President Joe Biden was briefed on the capturing, the White House mentioned, including that it’s carefully monitoring the state of affairs and has been in contact with native officers and legislation enforcement to supply assist.
“What has our nation come to when children cannot attend a birthday party without fear? When parents have to worry every time their kids walk out the door to school, to the movie theater, or to the park?” Biden mentioned in an announcement Sunday. “Guns are the leading killer of children in America, and the numbers are rising – not declining. This is outrageous and unacceptable.”
Biden referred to as on Congress to “require safe storage of firearms, require background checks for all gun sales, eliminate gun manufacturers’ immunity from liability, and ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.”
The mayor mentioned Dowdell was “a great young man.” He additionally mentioned he’s involved about these wounded and psychologically traumatized by the capturing.
“We are praying for them,” Goodman mentioned. “We ask God, if it’s his will, to bring them back to their parents safe, so they can mend.”
Goodman mentioned weapons and violence usually are not a frequent presence in Dadeville. He mentioned making an attempt to regulate weapons would show as futile as making an attempt to regulate unlawful medication.
This is no less than the second time in recent times that a number of folks had been shot in Dadeville. Five folks had been wounded in July 2016 throughout a capturing at an American Legion corridor, and a person was later charged with 5 counts of tried homicide, information shops reported.
Dadeville High School had 485 college students in grades 6-12 in 2022, based on Alabama state knowledge. It serves Dadeville and close by elements of Tallapoosa County. Like the remainder of Dadeville, it’s tucked away simply out of view off a busy freeway that runs from Birmingham to Auburn.
Michael Taylor is an assistant coach for the soccer, basketball and monitor groups at Dadeville High. He mentioned he met Dowdell when Dowdell was 9 and Taylor coached him in youth soccer. He mentioned the crew was invited to Atlanta to play within the stadium utilized by the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons.
“He did some amazing things there, and he never stopped doing them since then,” Taylor mentioned. “He was the No. 1 athlete in the school.”
Taylor mentioned he final heard from Dowdell on Friday, when Dowdell was searching for video of his athletic exploits. Taylor mentioned he drove to the capturing scene Saturday night time from his house in close by Camp Hill.
“Man, I couldn’t get close,” Taylor mentioned. “So once I found out what’s going on, I really I just had to leave because it was going to be all night.”
Taylor mentioned he returned Sunday to see Dowdle’s physique carried out from the dance studio. He mentioned he’s undecided what he’ll inform different athletes Monday.
“The first thing we’ve got to do is we’ve got to pray our way out of this,” Taylor mentioned Sunday. “There ain’t no other way. And then I can tell you, they’re all real close like family at the high school.”
Like in lots of different small cities, highschool soccer video games are a group focus. It may also open up a route to varsity for athletes, Taylor mentioned.
“It gives you a way out, you know getting some goals to shoot for, for college,” Taylor mentioned. “Also it gives you a sense of pride for your high school.”
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Kim Chandler reported from Huntsville, Alabama.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”