Police establish victims at celebration
DADEVILLE, Ala. – A small neighborhood was grieving the lack of four young people 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. Authorities stated 28 others have been injured.
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 high school, expressed condolences for the neighborhood through social media and supplied assets to college students who misplaced their classmates and mates.
“We’re deeply saddened to listen to in regards to the current taking pictures incident that occurred. Our ideas and prayers exit to the scholars, school and households affected by this tragic occasion,” the school’s Facebook post read. “Our faculty counselors and clergy are right here to supply steerage and help to anybody who wants it.”
Right here’s what we learn about who the victims have been:
ALABAMA SHOOTING UPDATES:Victims identified as police still search for shooter, motive
Philstavious ‘Phil’ Dowdell, 18
A senior at Dadeville Excessive, Dowdell was simply weeks away from his Might 25 commencement when he died. He was on the dance studio downtown to have fun his youthful sister’s birthday.
Dowdell was a star athlete who performed soccer and basketball and ran monitor on the faculty. He had dedicated earlier this yr to play soccer at Jacksonville State College.
“He was a really, very humble baby,” his grandmother Annette Allen stated. “By no means messed with anyone. All the time had a smile on his face.”
Antojuan Woody, from the close by city of Camp Hill, was a fellow huge receiver with Dowdell on the Dadeville Tigers soccer workforce. He stated he and Dowdell had been lifelong finest mates.
Woody described the victims “as nice individuals who didn’t deserve what occurred to them.”
Shaunkivia ‘KeKe’ Nicole Smith, 17
Smith was additionally a Dadeville Excessive senior closing in on commencement. She performed volleyball and softball on the faculty, beloved vogue and was planning to attend the College of Alabama within the fall.
Amy Jackson, a primary cousin as soon as eliminated who stated she felt extra like Smith’s aunt, described her as good, well-rounded and all the time prepared with a sort phrase.
“She was like a ray of sunshine … all the time smiling,” Jackson stated. “She wasn’t a unfavorable particular person. She all the time discovered one thing optimistic.”
Marsiah ‘Siah’ Emmanuel Collins, 19
Collins was a 19-year-old from Opelika, 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 monitor workforce win the 6A state championship in 2021.
He was additionally a musician who launched songs on YouTube and different platforms below the stage identify 224A Siah. After taking a spot yr, Collins was planning to attend Louisiana State College within the fall.
“My son was humorous and clever, athletic and gifted,” stated his father, Martin Edward. “He beloved to make his music and play sports activities.”
Corbin Dahmontrey Holston, 23
Holston was from Dadeville and graduated from Dadeville Excessive in 2018. Based on his social media accounts, he was dwelling in Birmingham earlier than he died.
Holston’s mom, Janett Heard, told AL.com her son didn’t attend the occasion however was there to verify on the security of a youthful member of the family.
“Corbin was selfless when it could to his household and mates and all the time tried to be a protector,’’ Heard stated. “That’s simply the kind of particular person he was.”
Contributing: The Related Press