Young soccer star among those killed in Alabama shooting

A high school student planning to play college football was celebrating his sister’s 16th birthday on Saturday night in Alabama when shots they killed him and three other people and injured several others.

Police are investigating what happened Sunday at a dance studio where the party was held in downtown Dadeville. They did not immediately say if a suspect was in custody or if they knew more about any motivation.

Philstavious “Phil” Dowdella high school student from Dadeville who had won a scholarship to Jacksonville State University, was at his sister Alexis’ party before he was shot and killed, his grandmother Annette Allen says The Montgomery Advertiser.

“He was a very, very humble boy. He never bothered anyone. He always had a smile on his faceAllen told the newspaper, calling it “a million dollar smile.”

Dowdell’s mother was among those injured in the shooting.

“Everyone is in mourning,” Allen said.

Sergeant Jeremy Burkett of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said the shooting happened around 10:30 p.m. Saturday.

“There were four lives tragically lost in this incident, and there were scores of injuries,” Burkett said at a news conference on Sunday.

Shootings rocked the town of 3,200 people, located about 92 kilometers northeast of Montgomery, Alabama.

Dadeville Police Chief Jonathan L. Floyd paused to regain his composure before speaking at the press conference.

“What we have covered is something 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 continued to enter and exit the Mahogany Masterpiece dance studio, indicated by a banner hanging outside a one-story brick building in the compact downtown from Dadeville. City and county officials gathered at the Tallapoosa County Courthouse less than a block away, where officials lowered the American and Alabama flags at half-mast.

Dadeville Mayor Frank Goodman said he was asleep in his bed when a member of council called him shortly before 11 p.m. He said he had gone to Lake Martin Community Hospital in Dadeville, where some of the people who had been shot were taken. .

“It was chaotic,” Goodman said. “There were people running. They were crying and screaming. There were police cars everywhere, there were ambulances everywhere. People were trying to find out about their relatives. It was the scene, where nothing like this had ever happened before in our city.

Pastor Ben Hayes, who serves as a chaplain for the Dadeville Police Department and the local high school football team, said most of the victims were teenagers. Dowdell was just weeks away from graduating and facing a bright future.Hayes said The Associated Press.

“He was a serious competitor on the field,” Hayes said. “You didn’t want to try to tackle him or be tackled by him. But when he came off the pitch he was one of the nicest young men you could ever meet, very respectful and highly respected by his peers.

Hayes said the families of the victims went to the local hospital on Saturday evening to try to find out the condition of their children. He said serious crime was rare in Dadeville and the small town was “sad, traumatized, in shock”.

He Rich Rodriguez, Jacksonville State football coachsaid in a statement on Sunday: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Philstavious Dowdell and the other victims of last night’s senseless tragedy. He was a great young man with a bright future. My team and I We are heartbroken and hope everyone supports their family during this difficult time.”

Dowdell also recently won a medal in a high school track and field meet at the University of Troy.

The board will be available to students in Tallapoosa County schools on Monday, school district superintendent Raymond C. Porter said.

“This morning I mourn with the people of Dadeville and my fellow Alabama. Violent crime has NO place in our state, and law enforcement is keeping us closely informed as the details unfold. emerging,” the Alabama governor said. Kay Iveyin a statement on social media.

President Joe Biden was notified of the shooting, the White House said, adding that it was monitoring the situation closely and had been in contact with local authorities and law enforcement to offer support.

“What about our nation when children cannot attend a birthday party without fear? When parents have to worry every time their kids walk through the school gate, go to the movies, or go to the park? Biden said in a statement Sunday. “Guns are the number one killer of children in the United States, and the number is growing, not falling. This is outrageous and unacceptable.”

Biden called on Congress to “require safe storage of guns, require background checks for all gun sales, remove liability immunity for gun manufacturers, and ban firearms.” ‘assault and high capacity magazines’.

The mayor called Dowdell a “great young man”. He also said he was concerned for those injured and psychologically traumatized by the shooting.

“We pray for them,” Goodman said. “We ask God, if it be his will, to return them safe and sound to their parents, so that they can be healed.”

Goodman said guns and violence are not common in Dadeville.. He added that trying to control guns would prove as futile as trying to control illegal drugs.

This is at least the second time in recent years that several people have been shot dead in Dadeville. Five people were injured in July 2016 in a shooting at an American Legion hall, and one man was later charged with five counts of attempted murder, media reported.

Dadeville High School had 485 students in grades 6 through 12 in 2022, according to Alabama state data. Serves Dadeville and neighboring parts of Tallapoosa County. Like the rest of Dadeville, it is tucked away out of sight on a busy freeway that connects Birmingham to Auburn.

Michael Taylor is an assistant coach for Dadeville High’s football, basketball, and track and field teams. He said he met Dowdell when Dowdell was 9 and Taylor coached him in youth football. He said the team was invited to Atlanta to play in the stadium used by the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL.

“He did amazing things there, and he hasn’t stopped doing them since,” Taylor said. “He was the No. 1 athlete in the school.”

Taylor said the last time he heard of Dowdell was on Friday when the youngster was looking for a video of his sporting achievements. Taylor said she drove to the scene of the shooting on Saturday night from her home in nearby Camp Hill.

“Man, I couldn’t get close,” Taylor said. “So once I found out what was going on I really had to leave because it was going to be all night.”

Taylor said she returned on Sunday to see Dowdle’s body being carried out of the dance studio. He said he wasn’t sure what he would tell other athletes on Monday.

“The first thing we need to do is pray for our way out of this,” Taylor said Sunday. “There is no other way. And then I can tell you that they are all very close like a family in high school.”

Like many other small towns, high school football games are a community priority. It can also pave the way to college for athletes, Taylor said.

“It gives you an outlet, you know, allows you to achieve goals for college,” Taylor said. “It also gives you a sense of pride in your high school.”

(With AP information)

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