A high school senior who had signed up to play college football was at his sister’s 16th birthday party Saturday night in Alabama when a shooting occurred that killed him and three others.
Police were still gathering evidence Sunday at a dance hall where the party was held in downtown Dadeville. So far it is unknown if there are detainees.
Philstavious “Phil” Dowdell, a Dadeville High School senior who had signed with Jacksonville State University, was celebrating at his sister Alexis’ party before he was shot and killed, his grandmother Annette Allen told The Montgomery Advertiser.
“He was a very, very humble boy. He never messed with anyone. He always had a smile on his face,” Allen told the newspaper, “it was a million dollar smile,” he added.
Dowdell’s mother was among those wounded in the shooting.
“Everyone is grieving,” Allen said.
Sergeant Jeremy Burkett said the shooting happened around 10:30 p.m. Saturday.
“There were four lives tragically lost in this incident and there have been multitudes of injuries,” Burkett said during a news conference on Sunday.
The shooting rocked the city of 3,200, which is about 57 miles (92 kilometers) northeast of Montgomery, Alabama.
Dadeville Police Chief Jonathan L. Floyd paused to regain his composure before speaking at the news conference.
“What we have dealt with is something that no community should have to put up with. I only ask for your patience. It’s going to be a long process, but I sincerely ask for your prayers,” Floyd said.
More than 12 hours after the shooting, investigators were still going in and out of the Mahogany Masterpiece dance studio in downtown Dadeville. City and county officials milled at the Tallapoosa County Courthouse less than a block away, where the US and Alabama flags were flown at half mast.