By JEFF AMY and KIM CHANDLER (Associated Press)
DADEVILLE, Ala. (AP) — A highschool senior who deliberate to play school soccer was celebrating at his sister’s sixteenth party Saturday evening in Alabama when gunfire killed him and three different individuals and wounded a number of others.
Police had been gathering proof Sunday at a dance studio the place the celebration 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’ celebration earlier than he was shot to loss of life, his grandmother Annette Allen informed The Montgomery Advertiser.
“He was a very, very humble child. Never messed with anybody. Always had a smile on his face,” Allen informed the newspaper, calling it “a million-dollar smile.”
Dowdell’s mom was amongst these harm within the taking pictures.
“Everybody’s grieving,” Allen mentioned.
Sgt. Jeremy Burkett of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency mentioned the taking pictures 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 taking pictures, 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 workers.
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 among 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 group, mentioned many of the victims are youngsters. Dowdell was inside weeks of commencement and confronted a brilliant future, Hayes informed 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 anxious households swarmed the native hospital Saturday evening looking for the situation of their youngsters. He mentioned severe 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 gained medals at a highschool observe meet at Troy University.
Counseling might be accessible for college students at Tallapoosa County colleges Monday, the varsity superintendent, Raymond C. Porter, mentioned.
“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 posted on social media.
President Joe Biden has been briefed on the taking pictures, 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 help.
“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 taking pictures.
“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 aren’t a frequent presence in Dadeville. He mentioned making an attempt to regulate weapons would show as futile as making an attempt to regulate unlawful medicine.
This is at the very least the second time lately that a number of individuals had been shot in Dadeville. Five individuals had been wounded in July 2016 throughout a taking pictures at an American Legion corridor, and a person was later charged with 5 counts of tried homicide, information shops reported.
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Kim Chandler reported from Huntsville, Alabama.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”