Editor’s note: This remains a developing story and was updated Friday morning (April 21).
As the Dadeville community continues to mourn the death of four teens killed in the April 15 mass shooting at a Sweet 16 birthday party, six suspects have been arrested and are facing multiple charges. Authorities announced the charges on the first two suspects during a press conference Wednesday morning (April 19). Arrests continued to be made throughout the week.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency identified the first two suspects as Ty Reik McCullough, 17, and Travis McCullough, 16, both of Tuskegee. A third suspect, 20-year-old Wilson LaMar Hill of Auburn, was arrested and charged Wednesday afternoon. Three more arrests were announced Thursday (April 20) — Johnny Letron Brown, 20, and a 15-year-old male (name not released due to his age) both of Tuskegee, and Willie George Brown Jr., 19, of Auburn.
The five older suspects are being held without bond in the Tallapoosa County Jail. Authorities did not comment about where the 15 year old is being held nor on what condition.
Ministry efforts continue
Dadeville-area ministers, counselors and Alabama Baptist Disaster Relief chaplains remain available for students, teachers, first responders and others in the community following the tragic shooting that took place in a downtown dance studio. In addition to four fatalities, the shooting also left 32 injured.
Flowers and other memorials started appearing in front of the studio after police tape was removed from around the front of the building earlier this week.
Investigations continue with a new command post set up at First Baptist Church Dadeville. A post also was set up at the Tallapoosa County Courthouse, where the Wednesday press conference took place.
In addition to ALEA’s State Bureau of Investigation, several groups are assisting the Dadeville Police Department with the investigations including Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Office, ATF, FBI and U.S. Marshals Service. The 5th Circuit District Attorney’s Office also remains heavily involved.
“A crisis calls for strong leaders to emerge,” Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions executive director Rick Lance said in an April 18 blog post. “That is what is happening in Dadeville. The city police are doing their jobs. Other first responders stepped up to do what they do best. Pastors and other people of faith have pointed people to the only hope we have, which is Jesus Christ the Lord.”
To read Lance’s full article, visit ricklance.com.
Confirmed reports from the scene
A previous report from ALEA confirmed the shooting occurred at approximately 10:34 p.m. near the 200 Block of Broadnax Street in Dadeville, located in Tallapoosa County and that special agents recovered numerous shell casings used in handguns but did not recover any high-powered rifle ammunition at the scene.
Community prayer vigils were held April 16 and memorial services and funerals are now being planned and scheduled.
The four killed were Dadeville High School senior athletes 18-year-old Phil Dowdell and 17-year-old KeKe Smith, along with 23-year-old Dadeville High School alum Corbin Holston and 19-year-old Marsiah Collins of Opelika, who was taking a gap year between high school and college.
Four of the injured remain in critical condition, according to reports from family and friends.
Anyone with information or more details to share is asked to call the SBI’s crime information hotline at 800-392-8011 or email sbi.investigations@alea.gov.
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