Alabama shooting: 6th person charged with murder in Sweet 16 shooting

DADEVILLE, Alabama — Police on Thursday arrested a 15-year-old on four counts of reckless murder following Saturday’s deadly shooting at a Sweet 16 party in Dadeville.

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Authorities did not immediately identify the juvenile suspect except to say that they are from Tuskegee. The arrest marked the sixth since gunshots rang out during the birthday party at the Mahogany Masterpiece dance studio in downtown Dadeville, killing four people and injuring 32 others.

On Wednesday, police announced the arrests of 17-year-old Ty Reik McCullough and 16-year-old Travis McCullough, both of Tuskegee, and 20-year-old Wilson LaMarr Hill Jr., of Auburn. Authorities said 19-year-old Willie George Brown Jr., of Auburn, and 20-year-old Jonny Letron Brown, of Tuskegee, were also arrested Thursday.

“All individuals arrested in connection to this death investigation have been charged with four counts of Reckless Murder and they have been booked into the Tallapoosa County Jail with no bond with the exception of the 15-year-old juvenile,” officials with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said Thursday in a statement.

Prosecutors said the suspects will face additional charges related to the injuries reported Saturday.

The circumstances leading up to the shooting remained unclear. Mike Segrest, district attorney for Alabama’s fifth circuit, said people were gathered to celebrate Alexis “Lexi” Dowdell’s birthday when the shooting started. Dowdell’s older brother was among those killed.

“There was uncut cake and unburnt 16 candles that never got lit,” Segret said at a news conference Wednesday. “Lexi’s brother was one of the victims. On her 16th birthday party, she knelt by her brother as he took his last breath. That’s what we’re dealing with here.”

Authorities identified the slain victims as Shaunkivia Nicole “KeKe” Smith, 17; Philstavious “Phil” Dowdell, 18; Marsiah Emmanuel “Siah” Collins, 19; and Corbin Dehmontrey Holston, 23.