2 teen brothers arrested in Alabama Sweet 16 shooting that killed 4 and injured 32
DADEVILLE, Ala. – Two teenage brothers have been arrested in connection with a shooting that left four dead and 32 injured over Sweet 16 weekend, authorities said Wednesday.
The teenagers, 16-year-old Travis McCullough and 17-year-old Ty Reik McCullough of Tuskegee, were taken into custody Tuesday evening on charges of involuntary manslaughter, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Sgt. Jeremy Burkett told reporters.
The brothers are charged as adults.
Prosecutors and police have released few details about the arrest, such as the weapons used or a possible motive for the attack. The suspects are brothers, an FBI spokesman said.
The shooting rang out at 10:34 p.m. Saturday at a dance studio on Broadnax Street in Dadeville, where friends and family were celebrating a 16-year-old girl’s birthday, police said.
The four killed were identified by police as Shaunkivia Smith, 17; Marsiah Collins, 19; Corbin Holston, 23; and Philstavious Dowdell, 18. Dadeville is about 25 miles northwest of Auburn University.
Four people remained hospitalized and listed in critical condition Wednesday, officials said.
Fifth Judicial District Attorney Mike Segrest tried to keep his composure, thinking of Alexis Dowdell, the birthday girl whose brother was among those killed.
“There’s an uncut cake and 16 unburned candles that were never lit,” Segrest said. “One of the victims was Lexi’s brother. At her 16th birthday party, she knelt next to her brother as he breathed his last. That’s what we’re all about.”
An emotional Segrest said he knew the parents of several of the victims.
“These are my children, these are our children,” the prosecutor said. “Don’t mess with our kids. Don’t mess with our kids.”
The shooting began about an hour after someone with a gun was ejected from the party, said party DJ Keenan Cooper, who reported hearing gunshots from multiple assailants.
Police said it is in the early stages of the investigation and is still in dire need of the public’s help, particularly party guests who have yet to speak to investigators.
“If you were on the scene that night — so you were physically on the scene — if you didn’t come forward, meaning you didn’t contact law enforcement, listen to me, I absolutely want you to,” Burkett said. “We need you to come for the families, for these victims.
Dadeville Police Chief Jonathan Floyd also asked for the public’s help and patience, according to which the complicated investigation cannot be rushed.
“If we’re quick, if we’re careless and we make an arrest but it doesn’t result in a conviction, it doesn’t result in ultimate justice for our victims, then we’ve failed our victims,” Floyd said. “I’m asking for your patience, I’m asking for your understanding.”
It was not immediately clear when the suspects will appear before a judge or if they have hired or been assigned defense attorneys.
Older brother plays on the football team at Booker T. Washington High School in Tuskegee and will be a senior this fall.
Coach Lawrence O’Neal said his player had a good junior season and was attracting attention from Division II and junior varsity programs. He asked the public to withhold judgment until more evidence was uncovered.
“The picture that’s painted may not be the picture that ends up coming out,” O’Neal said.
“I’m not saying they’re victims. But what I’m saying is the picture that’s being painted now that they just showed up to crash the party is not the reality of the situation.”
The Dadeville attack was the latest mass shooting to hit the United States in recent weeks.
