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2 best friends, gifted athlete, college hopeful among victims of Alabama birthday party shooting

2 best friends, gifted athlete, college hopeful among victims of Alabama birthday party shooting
BACK TO YOU. ALL RIGHT, THANKS. THAT TIME RIGHT NOW, JUST ABOUT 502. WHAT BEGAN AS A SWEET 16 PARTY CELEBRATING LIFE, ENDING IN A MASSACRE IN TALLAPOOSA COUNTY. POLICE SAY FOUR PEOPLE WERE SHOT AND KILLED DURING A BIRTHDAY PARTY, 28 OTHERS INJURED. NOT ALL OF THEM SHOT. WVTM 13. PATSY DOUGLAS LIVE IN LAW SCHOOL IN DADEVILLE THIS MORNING WITH A TRAGIC SHOOTING TOOK PLACE. AND PATSY, WHERE DOES THIS INVESTIGATION STAND RIGHT NOW. WELL, RICK, RIGHT NOW INVESTIGATORS ARE GIVING US A FEW DETAILS IN NOT THAT MUCH INFORMATION ABOUT THE SHOOTING AND HOW IT UNFOLDED. BUT WHAT THEY DID TELL US IS THAT THE MASS SHOOTING, IT HAPPENED ON BROADNAX STREET AND DADEVILLE SATURDAY NIGHT INSIDE OF A SMALL DANCE STUDIO. POLICE SAY THE SHOOTING LED TO FOUR DEAD AND INJURED, 28. NOW THE DADEVILLE POLICE CALLING IN THE STATE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION TO TAKE OVER WITH HELP FROM ATF. NOW, AS FOR THE SUSPECTS, OFFICIALS HAVE NOT CONFIRMED IF SOMEONE IS IN CUSTODY AT THIS TIME, BUT THEY DID SAY OR DID CONFIRM THAT THERE IS NO ACTIVE THREAT TO THE PUBLIC. CITY OF BABEL IS A TIGHT KNIT COMMUNITY FULL OF WONDERFUL PEOPLE. I ASK YOU TO PLEASE KEEP OUR COMMUNITY IN YOUR PRAYERS. I ASK YOU TO KEEP MY POLICE DEPARTMENT IN YOUR PRAYERS. AND I ALSO ASK EACH OF YOU, PLEASE DO NOT LET THIS MOMENT DEFINE WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE CITY OF DADEVILLE AND OUR FINE PEOPLE. NOW, AS STUDENTS RETURN BACK TO THE CLASSROOM THIS MORNING, THEY PLAN TO HAVE COUNSELORS ON HAND TO HELP THOSE STUDENTS. DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME. AND DA
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Updated: 10:06 PM CDT Apr 17, 2023
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2 best friends, gifted athlete, college hopeful among victims of Alabama birthday party shooting
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Updated: 10:06 PM CDT Apr 17, 2023
Editorial Standards
Two days after a killer gunned down revelers celebrating a Sweet 16 party, police say they have "strong leads" in the massacre that left four people dead, at least 32 others injured and a small Alabama city tormented by confusion and grief.In addition to the young victims killed, at least 15 teens were shot and hospitalized Saturday night in Dadeville.Despite the leads, police have not released any information about a possible suspect or motive behind the violence.While Dadeville's police chief asked for "patience" with the investigation, he and state officials urged anyone who has pictures or information from the scene to help authorities."I cannot stress this enough: We absolutely need you to share it," Sgt. Jeremy J. Burkett of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said.The gunfire erupted around 10:34 p.m. Saturday at a venue in downtown Dadeville. Keenan Cooper, who was DJ'ing the party, said he didn't notice any fight or disturbance before the shooting."It's really sad to see all the kids that were shot and the ones that are deceased," Cooper told CNN. "And seeing all those bodies at the front door, all those kids are probably going to be traumatized."The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency did not specify the ages of the 32 people injured or whether they were all shot. But Burkett said some of them were critically injured.What we know about the lives lostOn Monday, Tallapoosa County Coroner Mike Knox identified all four of the victims killed:• Corbin Dahmontrey Holston, a 23-year-old male from Dadeville, Alabama• Marsiah Emmanuel Collins, a 19-year-old male from Opelika, Alabama• Philstavious Dowdell, an 18-year-old male from Camp Hill, Alabama, and a senior at Dadeville High School• Shaunkivia (KeKe) Nicole Smith, a 17-year-old female, also a senior at Dadeville High SchoolMarsiah CollinsMarsiah Collins, 19, was an aspiring musician who looked forward to attending Louisiana State University in the fall, his father Martin Collins told CNN.He described his son as an optimistic person who cared deeply about his family."I have my son's picture over my bed and to wake up now and see it and know my son is dead is devastating," Martin Collins said.Marsiah Collins was accepted to LSU in 2022, but decided to take a year off to pursue a music career and spend more time with his mother before heading to college this upcoming fall, his father said.Martin Collins, a Marine veteran, said his son spent the first few years of his life traveling with him, but ultimately settled with his mother in Opelika, Alabama. Martin Collins lives in Louisiana and was making plans to help his son move for college."He loved to spend time with his sisters, and he loved football," Martin Collins said of his son. "Football was his life. He was very talented and overall, a smart kid."Marsiah Collins graduated from Opelika High School in 2022 and played defensive end on the school's football team, his father said.Martin Collins found out about his son's passing early Sunday morning when his ex-wife's cousin called to deliver the news."At first, I thought maybe he ran away from the gunshots and was hiding somewhere but then she told me that it wasn't looking good," Martin Collins said.Philstavious Dowdell, who was also killed at the same birthday party, and Marsiah Collins were best friends, according to Martin Collins."Football in Alabama connects the kids," he said. "Those kids did everything together. They would even go to each others' high schools to watch each other play. "Marsiah Collins is survived by his older brother, two younger sisters, father and mother. Philstavious DowdellDowdell was the brother of the teen celebrating her birthday, Alexis Dowdell, the family says.Partygoers were enjoying the music when the gunfire started, Alexis told CNN on Tuesday. People panicked and ran around, she said."And then all I remember is my brother grabbing me and pushing me down to the ground" while the shooting continued, Alexis said.She felt a pool of blood on the ground, she said. Uninjured, she said she eventually got up and went outside and found her stepfather and mother, LaTonya Allen, who also had been at the party.When she went back inside and the lights were turned on, Alexis could see her brother, wounded on the ground. She ran to him and held him, she said, telling him: "'(You're) strong. Don't give up on me.'"When emergency medical technicians arrived, Alexis asked them to check her brother's pulse. "And they checked and they said he was gone," she said.Dowdell was a star football player at Dadeville High School and earned a scholarship to play at Jacksonville State University.Jacksonville State head coach Rich Rodriguez said in a statement Sunday that Dowdell was "a great young man with a bright future.""Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Philstavious Dowdell and the other victims of the senseless tragedy last night, " Rodriguez said Sunday. Michael Taylor, who has coached Dowdell since he was 9 years old, described Dowdell as a humble person who he knew "like a son," explaining that his own college-aged son was very close to Dowdell and the two often trained together."His grandmother gave him a scripture every morning before he went to school to make sure he was always on point," the coach said.Just about a month ago, Taylor said, Dowdell had told him, "If anything ever happened to me, even when I go to college, take care of my two sisters." Keke SmithKeke Smith was a high school senior looking forward to attending The University of Alabama, said Amy Jackson, who identified herself as Smith's cousin."She was always smiling," Jackson said.Smith's mother was the person who told Jackson that her cousin had been killed, she said.Smith was a student athletics manager for Dadeville High School's track team and helped out the basketball team, assistant football and track, Taylor said. She had recently torn her ACL and had to step back from running track, he added. Several teens are fighting for their livesAt least 15 teenagers from the birthday party were shot and taken to Dadeville's Lake Martin Community Hospital, spokesperson Heidi Smith said.Among them, five were in critical condition, and four were in stable condition, Smith said Sunday. Those nine patients have been transferred to other medical facilities.The remaining six patients have been treated and released, Smith said.In nearby Alexander City, Russell Medical Center "received multiple patients" from the birthday party shooting, spokesperson Susan Foy said."They were either treated and released or transferred to other facilities," Foy said. She said she could not confirm how many patients were received or their ages.Dadeville joins cities nationwide in mourningThe anguish gripping Dadeville is now tragically familiar across the country.The U.S. has suffered more than 160 mass shootings in the first 16 weeks of this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Like CNN, the non-profit defines mass shootings as those in which four or more people are shot, excluding the shooter.President Joe Biden said he is praying for the victims' families in Dadeville and reiterated his call Sunday for Congress to reach an agreement on gun control legislation."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 said.Mourners in Dadeville don't have to speculate. They're already enveloped by grief."It's a very close, tight-knit community," said local pastor Ben Hayes, who also serves as the chaplain for the Dadeville Police Department and the Dadeville High School football team."Everybody knows everybody. That's why this is so difficult," he said. "I knew these kids personally. Most people did."

Two days after a killer gunned down revelers celebrating a Sweet 16 party, police say they have "strong leads" in the massacre that left four people dead, at least 32 others injured and a small Alabama city tormented by confusion and grief.

In addition to the young victims killed, at least and hospitalized Saturday night in Dadeville.

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Despite the leads, police have not released any information about a possible suspect or motive behind the violence.

While Dadeville's police chief asked for "patience" with the investigation, he and state officials urged anyone who has pictures or information from the scene to help authorities.

"I cannot stress this enough: We absolutely need you to share it," Sgt. Jeremy J. Burkett of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said.

The gunfire erupted around 10:34 p.m. Saturday at a venue in downtown Dadeville. Keenan Cooper, who was DJ'ing the party, said he didn't notice any fight or disturbance before the shooting.

"It's really sad to see all the kids that were shot and the ones that are deceased," Cooper told CNN. "And seeing all those bodies at the front door, all those kids are probably going to be traumatized."

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency did not specify the ages of the 32 people injured or whether they were all shot. But Burkett said some of them were critically injured.

What we know about the lives lost

On Monday, Tallapoosa County Coroner Mike Knox identified all four of the victims killed:

• Corbin Dahmontrey Holston, a 23-year-old male from Dadeville, Alabama

• Marsiah Emmanuel Collins, a 19-year-old male from Opelika, Alabama

• Philstavious Dowdell, an 18-year-old male from Camp Hill, Alabama, and a senior at Dadeville High School

• Shaunkivia (KeKe) Nicole Smith, a 17-year-old female, also a senior at Dadeville High School

Marsiah Collins

Marsiah Collins, 19, was an aspiring musician who looked forward to attending Louisiana State University in the fall, his father Martin Collins told CNN.

He described his son as an optimistic person who cared deeply about his family.

"I have my son's picture over my bed and to wake up now and see it and know my son is dead is devastating," Martin Collins said.

Marsiah Collins was accepted to LSU in 2022, but decided to take a year off to pursue a music career and spend more time with his mother before heading to college this upcoming fall, his father said.

Martin Collins, a Marine veteran, said his son spent the first few years of his life traveling with him, but ultimately settled with his mother in Opelika, Alabama. Martin Collins lives in Louisiana and was making plans to help his son move for college.

"He loved to spend time with his sisters, and he loved football," Martin Collins said of his son. "Football was his life. He was very talented and overall, a smart kid."

Marsiah Collins graduated from Opelika High School in 2022 and played defensive end on the school's football team, his father said.

Martin Collins found out about his son's passing early Sunday morning when his ex-wife's cousin called to deliver the news.

"At first, I thought maybe he ran away from the gunshots and was hiding somewhere but then she told me that it wasn't looking good," Martin Collins said.

Philstavious Dowdell, who was also killed at the same birthday party, and Marsiah Collins were best friends, according to Martin Collins.

"Football in Alabama connects the kids," he said. "Those kids did everything together. They would even go to each others' high schools to watch each other play. "

Marsiah Collins is survived by his older brother, two younger sisters, father and mother.

Philstavious Dowdell

Dowdell was the brother of the teen celebrating her birthday, Alexis Dowdell, the family says.

Partygoers were enjoying the music when the gunfire started, Alexis told CNN on Tuesday. People panicked and ran around, she said.

"And then all I remember is my brother grabbing me and pushing me down to the ground" while the shooting continued, Alexis said.

She felt a pool of blood on the ground, she said. Uninjured, she said she eventually got up and went outside and found her stepfather and mother, LaTonya Allen, who also had been at the party.

When she went back inside and the lights were turned on, Alexis could see her brother, wounded on the ground. She ran to him and held him, she said, telling him: "'(You're) strong. Don't give up on me.'"

When emergency medical technicians arrived, Alexis asked them to check her brother's pulse. "And they checked and they said he was gone," she said.

Dowdell was a star football player at Dadeville High School and earned a scholarship to play at Jacksonville State University.

Jacksonville State head coach Rich Rodriguez said in Sunday that Dowdell was "a great young man with a bright future."

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Philstavious Dowdell and the other victims of the senseless tragedy last night, " Rodriguez said Sunday.

Philstavious Dowdell has been identified as one of the victims in the Dadeville shooting.
FacebookFamily photograph
Philstavious Dowdell has been identified as one of the victims in the Dadeville shooting.

Michael Taylor, who has coached Dowdell since he was 9 years old, described Dowdell as a humble person who he knew "like a son," explaining that his own college-aged son was very close to Dowdell and the two often trained together.

"His grandmother gave him a scripture every morning before he went to school to make sure he was always on point," the coach said.

Just about a month ago, Taylor said, Dowdell had told him, "If anything ever happened to me, even when I go to college, take care of my two sisters."

Keke Smith

Keke Smith was a high school senior looking forward to attending The University of Alabama, said Amy Jackson, who identified herself as Smith's cousin.

"She was always smiling," Jackson said.

Keke Smith
Facebook
Keke Smith has been identified as one of the victims in the Dadeville shooting.

Smith's mother was the person who told Jackson that her cousin had been killed, she said.

Smith was a student athletics manager for Dadeville High School's track team and helped out the basketball team, assistant football and track, Taylor said. She had recently torn her ACL and had to step back from running track, he added.

Several teens are fighting for their lives

At least 15 teenagers from the birthday party were shot and taken to Dadeville's Lake Martin Community Hospital, spokesperson Heidi Smith said.

Among them, five were in critical condition, and four were in stable condition, Smith said Sunday. Those nine patients have been transferred to other medical facilities.

The remaining six patients have been treated and released, Smith said.

In nearby Alexander City, Russell Medical Center "received multiple patients" from the birthday party shooting, spokesperson Susan Foy said.

"They were either treated and released or transferred to other facilities," Foy said. She said she could not confirm how many patients were received or their ages.

Dadeville joins cities nationwide in mourning

The anguish gripping Dadeville is now tragically familiar across the country.

The U.S. has suffered more than 160 mass shootings in the first 16 weeks of this year, according to the . Like CNN, the non-profit defines mass shootings as those in which four or more people are shot, excluding the shooter.

President Joe Biden said he is praying for the victims' families in Dadeville and reiterated his call Sunday for Congress to reach an agreement on gun control legislation.

"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 said.

Mourners in Dadeville don't have to speculate. They're already enveloped by grief.

"It's a very close, tight-knit community," said local pastor Ben Hayes, who also serves as the chaplain for the Dadeville Police Department and the Dadeville High School football team.

"Everybody knows everybody. That's why this is so difficult," he said. "I knew these kids personally. Most people did."