dadvilleA high school senior who plans to play college football was celebrating his sister’s 16th birthday party in Alabama Saturday night when a shooting killed him and three others and wounded several others.
Police were collecting evidence Sunday at a dance studio where the party was held in downtown Dadeville. They did not immediately say if any suspects were in custody, or if they knew more about any motivations.
PhilStavius ”Phil” dodelThe Dadeville High School senior, who committed to Jacksonville State University, was celebrating at his sister Alexis’s party before he was shot, his grandmother, Annette Allen, told the Montgomery Advertiser.
“He was a very polite kid. Never screwed over anybody. He always had a smile on his face,” Allen told the newspaper, “a million-dollar smile.”
Dowdell’s mother was among those injured in the shooting.
“Everyone is sad,” said Alan.
Sgt. Jeremy Burkett of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said the shooting happened around 10:30 p.m. Saturday.
“This incident tragically resulted in the loss of four lives and many more injured,” Burkett said during a news conference on Sunday.
The shooting rocked the town of 3,200 residents, 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’ve dealt with is something no community should have to endure. I just ask for your patience. It’s going to be a long process, but I sincerely ask for your prayers,” Floyd said. Said.
Dadeville’s compact downtown is centered around Courthouse Square consisting of one- and two-story brick buildings. The city’s busiest commercial district is a few blocks north of the square, off the bustling four-lane highway that runs between Birmingham and Auburn. close to dadville Martin LakeA popular recreational area.
More than 12 hours after the shooting, investigators continued filing in and out of the Mahogany Masterpiece Dance Studio, which hung from a banner outside a one-story brick building off the plaza. Less than a block away, the American and Alabama flags outside the Tallapoosa County Courthouse were lowered to half-staff.
Dadeville Mayor Frank Goodman said he was asleep when a council member called him just before 11 p.m. Saturday. He said he went to Lake Martin Community Hospital in Dadeville, where some people had been shot.
“It was chaotic,” Goodman said. “There were people running. They were crying and wailing. There were police vehicles everywhere, there were ambulances everywhere. People were trying to know about their loved ones. It was a scene the likes of which had never happened before in our city.
Chaplain Ben Hayes, who serves as chaplain for the Dadeville Police Department and the local high school football team, said most of the victims are teenagers. Hayes told The Associated Press that Dowdell was within weeks of graduation and faced a bright future.
Hayes said, “He was a strong competitor on the field.” See you sometime, highly respected and respected by his peers.
Hayes said worried families flocked to the local hospital Saturday night to find out about the condition of their children. He added that serious crimes are rare in Dadeville, and the small town is “sad, in shock, in shock”.
jacksonville state football coach rich rodriguez said in a statement on Sunday: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family philstavius dodell And the other victims of last night’s senseless tragedy. He was a great young man with a bright future. My staff and I are heartbroken and hope that everyone will support his family during this difficult time.
Dowdell recently won medals at a high school track meet at Troy University.
School District Superintendent Raymond C. Porter said counseling will be available to students in Tallapoosa County schools on Monday.
“This morning, I join the people of Dadeville and my fellow Alabamians in mourning. Violent crime has no place in our state, and we are staying closely updated by law enforcement as details emerge,” Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said in a statement on social media.
President Joe Biden was briefed about the shooting, the White House said, adding it is closely monitoring the situation and is in contact with local officials and law enforcement to offer support.
“What has happened to our country when children cannot attend birthday parties without fear? When parents have to worry every time their kids go to school, movie theater or park? Biden said in a statement on Sunday. “Guns are the leading killer of children in America, and the numbers are increasing – not decreasing. This is outrageous and unacceptable.”
Biden called on Congress to “require safe storage of firearms, require background checks for all gun sales, end gun manufacturers’ immunity from liability, and ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.” “
The mayor said that Dowdell was “a great young man.” He also said that he is worried about those injured and mentally disturbed by the shooting.
“We’re praying for them,” Goodman said. “We ask God, if it is His will, to bring them back safely to their parents, so that they may recover.”
Goodman said guns and violence are not a constant presence in Dadeville. He said that trying to control guns would be as futile as trying to control illegal drugs.
This is at least the second time in recent years that multiple people have been shot in Dadeville. News outlets reported that a shooting at an American Legion hall in July 2016 left five people injured, and that a man was later charged with five counts of attempted murder.
According to Alabama state statistics, Dadeville High School will have 485 students in grades 6-12 in 2022. It serves Dadesville and surrounding parts of Tallapoosa County. Like the rest of Dadeville, it sits off a busy highway running from Birmingham to Auburn.
Michael Taylor Dadville High has assistant coaches for the football, basketball and track teams. He said he met Dowdell when Dowdell was 9 and Tailor Coached him in youth football. He said that the team was invited to Atlanta to play in the stadium used by the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons.
Taylor said, “He did some amazing things there and he hasn’t stopped doing them since.” “He was the No. 1 athlete in school.”
Taylor said she last heard from Dowdell on Friday, when Dowdell asked for videos of his athletic exploits. Taylor said he drove to the shooting site on Saturday night from his home near Camp Hill.
“Man, I couldn’t pass,” Taylor said. “So once I found out what was going on, I really just had to leave because it was going to be all night.”
Taylor said he returned from the dance studio on Sunday to see Dowdle’s body. He said he’s not sure what he’ll tell the other athletes on Monday.
“The first thing we have to do is we have to pray to get out of this,” Taylor said on Sunday. “There’s no other way. And then I can tell you, they’re all very close like family in high school.
Like many other small towns, high school football games are a community focus. Taylor said it could also open the way for athletes to college.
“It gives you a way, you know, to get some goals to shoot for in college,” Taylor said. “Plus it gives you a sense of pride for your high school.”
Police were collecting evidence Sunday at a dance studio where the party was held in downtown Dadeville. They did not immediately say if any suspects were in custody, or if they knew more about any motivations.
PhilStavius ”Phil” dodelThe Dadeville High School senior, who committed to Jacksonville State University, was celebrating at his sister Alexis’s party before he was shot, his grandmother, Annette Allen, told the Montgomery Advertiser.
“He was a very polite kid. Never screwed over anybody. He always had a smile on his face,” Allen told the newspaper, “a million-dollar smile.”
Dowdell’s mother was among those injured in the shooting.
“Everyone is sad,” said Alan.
Sgt. Jeremy Burkett of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said the shooting happened around 10:30 p.m. Saturday.
“This incident tragically resulted in the loss of four lives and many more injured,” Burkett said during a news conference on Sunday.
The shooting rocked the town of 3,200 residents, 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’ve dealt with is something no community should have to endure. I just ask for your patience. It’s going to be a long process, but I sincerely ask for your prayers,” Floyd said. Said.
Dadeville’s compact downtown is centered around Courthouse Square consisting of one- and two-story brick buildings. The city’s busiest commercial district is a few blocks north of the square, off the bustling four-lane highway that runs between Birmingham and Auburn. close to dadville Martin LakeA popular recreational area.
More than 12 hours after the shooting, investigators continued filing in and out of the Mahogany Masterpiece Dance Studio, which hung from a banner outside a one-story brick building off the plaza. Less than a block away, the American and Alabama flags outside the Tallapoosa County Courthouse were lowered to half-staff.
Dadeville Mayor Frank Goodman said he was asleep when a council member called him just before 11 p.m. Saturday. He said he went to Lake Martin Community Hospital in Dadeville, where some people had been shot.
“It was chaotic,” Goodman said. “There were people running. They were crying and wailing. There were police vehicles everywhere, there were ambulances everywhere. People were trying to know about their loved ones. It was a scene the likes of which had never happened before in our city.
Chaplain Ben Hayes, who serves as chaplain for the Dadeville Police Department and the local high school football team, said most of the victims are teenagers. Hayes told The Associated Press that Dowdell was within weeks of graduation and faced a bright future.
Hayes said, “He was a strong competitor on the field.” See you sometime, highly respected and respected by his peers.
Hayes said worried families flocked to the local hospital Saturday night to find out about the condition of their children. He added that serious crimes are rare in Dadeville, and the small town is “sad, in shock, in shock”.
jacksonville state football coach rich rodriguez said in a statement on Sunday: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family philstavius dodell And the other victims of last night’s senseless tragedy. He was a great young man with a bright future. My staff and I are heartbroken and hope that everyone will support his family during this difficult time.
Dowdell recently won medals at a high school track meet at Troy University.
School District Superintendent Raymond C. Porter said counseling will be available to students in Tallapoosa County schools on Monday.
“This morning, I join the people of Dadeville and my fellow Alabamians in mourning. Violent crime has no place in our state, and we are staying closely updated by law enforcement as details emerge,” Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said in a statement on social media.
President Joe Biden was briefed about the shooting, the White House said, adding it is closely monitoring the situation and is in contact with local officials and law enforcement to offer support.
“What has happened to our country when children cannot attend birthday parties without fear? When parents have to worry every time their kids go to school, movie theater or park? Biden said in a statement on Sunday. “Guns are the leading killer of children in America, and the numbers are increasing – not decreasing. This is outrageous and unacceptable.”
Biden called on Congress to “require safe storage of firearms, require background checks for all gun sales, end gun manufacturers’ immunity from liability, and ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.” “
The mayor said that Dowdell was “a great young man.” He also said that he is worried about those injured and mentally disturbed by the shooting.
“We’re praying for them,” Goodman said. “We ask God, if it is His will, to bring them back safely to their parents, so that they may recover.”
Goodman said guns and violence are not a constant presence in Dadeville. He said that trying to control guns would be as futile as trying to control illegal drugs.
This is at least the second time in recent years that multiple people have been shot in Dadeville. News outlets reported that a shooting at an American Legion hall in July 2016 left five people injured, and that a man was later charged with five counts of attempted murder.
According to Alabama state statistics, Dadeville High School will have 485 students in grades 6-12 in 2022. It serves Dadesville and surrounding parts of Tallapoosa County. Like the rest of Dadeville, it sits off a busy highway running from Birmingham to Auburn.
Michael Taylor Dadville High has assistant coaches for the football, basketball and track teams. He said he met Dowdell when Dowdell was 9 and Tailor Coached him in youth football. He said that the team was invited to Atlanta to play in the stadium used by the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons.
Taylor said, “He did some amazing things there and he hasn’t stopped doing them since.” “He was the No. 1 athlete in school.”
Taylor said she last heard from Dowdell on Friday, when Dowdell asked for videos of his athletic exploits. Taylor said he drove to the shooting site on Saturday night from his home near Camp Hill.
“Man, I couldn’t pass,” Taylor said. “So once I found out what was going on, I really just had to leave because it was going to be all night.”
Taylor said he returned from the dance studio on Sunday to see Dowdle’s body. He said he’s not sure what he’ll tell the other athletes on Monday.
“The first thing we have to do is we have to pray to get out of this,” Taylor said on Sunday. “There’s no other way. And then I can tell you, they’re all very close like family in high school.
Like many other small towns, high school football games are a community focus. Taylor said it could also open the way for athletes to college.
“It gives you a way, you know, to get some goals to shoot for in college,” Taylor said. “Plus it gives you a sense of pride for your high school.”