Alabama shooting: One of 4 people killed was star high school athlete, family says

DADEVILLE, Ala. — A three-sport high school athlete who was headed to college on a football scholarship was one of the four people killed during Saturday night’s mass shooting at a dance studio in Alabama, family members said.

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Philstavious “Phil” Dowdell, 18, who starred at Dadeville High School, was celebrating his sister’s Sweet 16 birthday at Mahogany Masterpiece Dance Studio when the party was interrupted by gunfire, the Montgomery Advertiser reported. Police on Sunday evening confirmed four deaths and 28 people injured, with several in critical condition.

The Tallapoosa County coroner on Monday identified the people killed in Saturday’s shooting, WSFA-TV and AL.com reported. In addition to Dowdell, the coroner also said that Shaunkivia Nicole “KeKe” Smith, 17; Marsiah Emmanuel “Siah” Collins, 19; and Corbin Dehmontrey Holston, 23, were killed.

Dowdell’s death was confirmed to the newspaper on Sunday by his grandmother, Annette Allen, who said that Dowdell had a “million-dollar smile.”

“He was a very, very humble child,” Allen told the newspaper. “Never messed with anybody. Always had a smile on his face.”

Allen said that Dowdell’s mother suffered two gunshot wounds and is recovering, the Advertiser reported.

Dowdell, a senior at the high school, had committed in February to play football at Jacksonville State University, AL.com reported.

In a statement, JSU coach Rich Rodriguez said that Dowdell “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.”

Dadeville High School football coach Roger McDowell said that Dowdell was humble and a good person.

“As good a football, basketball and track athlete as he was, he was just as good a person. He always worked hard, was humble .. all the time,” McDowell told AL.com. “He hung on every word the coaches gave him. Whatever you told him, he trusted it and did everything you asked him to do.”

Michael Taylor, an assistant football coach at Dadeville, said he began coaching Dowdell when he was 10.

“I’ve been with Phil and some of the guys, and we came up together as far as when I started coaching youth then working with the school and coaching varsity,” Taylor told The Outlook newspaper of Alexander City. “It might sound strange, but we made each other. I tell those guys all the time, ‘You made me who I am today.’”

McDowell, who was 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighed 162 pounds, was a first-team All-State defensive back for Dadeville last season, AL.com reported. He also played wide receiver and returned kicks for the Tigers (10-1), who went unbeaten during the regular season. Dadeville advanced to the second round of the Class 3A playoffs, losing 15-14 in overtime to Thomasville, according to the news outlet.

“He did it all for us,” McDowell told AL.com. “He was a wide receiver, punt returner, kick returner, defensive back. One night as a junior, he scored a touchdown on three special teams plays, intercepted a pass and ran a reverse for a score.

“He was so coachable. He worked hard but also had that God-given ability you can’t coach. He had a good twitch, great vision. When he ran back punts, it was electrifying every time.”

On the basketball court, he was an integral part of Dadeville’s area basketball championship and playoff run, according to The Outlook.

Dowdell also competed in track and field. At Friday’s Troy Invitational, Dowdell placed first in the 100-meter dash and second in the 200-meter dash, the newspaper reported.

Allen asked for prayers for the families of the victims and residents in Tallapoosa County and the surrounding area.

“Everybody’s grieving,” Allen told the Advertiser.

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