Alabama Sweet 16 birthday party shooting

“I knew these kids personally. Most people did,” said Hayes, a church pastor and chaplain for the Dadeville Police Department.

At least 28 people, including many teenagers, were injured in the mass shooting. One hospital that received 15 injured teens said Sunday it had treated and released six patients and transferred the rest to other facilities. A hospital spokesperson said five were in critical condition, and four were stable.

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Husband kills Wife And 2 Daughters Days After Birthday.

According to Sgt, authorities have arrested Ty Reik McCullough, 17, and Travis McCullough, 16, concerning the shooting. Jeremy Burkett with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

Both suspects are facing four counts of reckless murder, Burkett said and will be prosecuted as adults, according to Mike Segrest, District Attorney for the Fifth Judicial Circuit of Alabama.

Here’s what we know about the victims so far.

Alabama Sweet 16 birthday party shooting

Mariah Collins, 19, was an aspiring musician who looked forward to attending Louisiana State University in the fall, his father, Martin Collins, told CNN.

He described his son as optimistic and cared deeply about his family.

“I have my son’s picture over my bed, and to wake up now and see it and know my son is dead is devastating,” Martin Collins said.

Mariah Collins was accepted to LSU in 2022 but decided to take a year off to pursue a music career and spend more time with his mother before heading to college this fall, his father said.

Martin Collins, a Marine veteran, said his son spent the first few years of his life travelling with him but ultimately settled with his mother in Opelika, Alabama. Martin Collins lived in Louisiana and planned to help his son move to college.

“He loved to spend time with his sisters, and he loved football,” Martin Collins said of his son. “Football was his life. He was very talented and, overall, a smart kid.”

His father said Mariah Collins graduated from Opelika High School in 2022 and played defensive end on the school’s football team.

Martin Collins learned about his son’s passing early Sunday morning when his ex-wife’s cousin called to deliver the news.

“At first, I thought maybe he ran away from the gunshots and was hiding somewhere, but then she told me that it wasn’t looking good,” Martin Collins said.

According to Martin Collins, Philstavious Dowdell, who was also killed at the same birthday party, and Marsiah Collins were best friends.

“Football in Alabama connects the kids,” he said. “Those kids did everything together. They would even go to each others’ high schools to watch each other play. “

Mariah Collins is survived by his older brother, two younger sisters, father and mother.

Philstavious Dowdell

Philstavious Dowdell was a gifted athlete who excelled at football, basketball and tracks at Dadeville High, the school’s track and basketball coach, Michael Taylor, said.

“Anything put in his hand, God blessed him to be able to do it,” said Taylor, who has coached Dowdell since he was 9.

According to Taylor, the oldest of three siblings, Dowdel, was killed at his younger sister’s birthday party. Hayes, the pastor, and Keenan Cooper, a DJ at the party, also confirmed Dowdell was among those killed.

Just about a month ago, the coach said, Dowdell had told him, “If anything ever happened to me, even when I go to college, take care of my two sisters.”

According to Cooper, the teenager had secured a scholarship to play football at Alabama’s Jacksonville State University, who described Dowdell as “kind of like the hometown hero.”

On Sunday, Jacksonville State head coach Rich Rodriguez said Dowdell was “a great young man with a bright future.”

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Philstavious Dowdell and the other victims of the senseless tragedy last night, ” Rodriguez said Sunday.

THE DEAD VICTIMS.