Dowdell.Photo: Phil Dowdell Facebook; Keke Nicole Smith FacebookTwo of the four fatal victims in anAlabama mass shootingSaturday night have been identified as high school students, according to reports.Family and friends identified Philstavious “Phil” Dowdell and Shaunkivia “Keke” Smith as two of the victims who died over the weekend,CNN reportedMonday. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA)confirmedSunday that four people died and at least 28 others were injured in the shooting, which reportedly took place at Dowdell’s sister’s 16th birthday party.Smith was a student athletic manager for the Dadeville High School track team and was set to attend the University of Alabama in the fall, according to CNN. Dowdell was a standout player on the school’s football team and had a scholarship to play at Jacksonville State University in Alabama this fall, the outlet reported.“He was a very, very humble child. Never messed with anybody. Always had a smile on his face,” Dowdell’s grandmother, Annette Allen, told theMontgomeryAdvertiseron Sunday.Dowdell’s mother was also shot and is recovering from her injuries, according to the outlet.Dadeville football coach Roger McDowelltold ABC Newsthat “Phil was humble with a major smile.““He had one goal: to get to the NFL and take care of his mom,” McDowell said.Jacksonville State’s head football coach Rich Rodriguez said ina statementthat he was “heartbroken” over Dowdell’s death, calling him “a great young man with a bright future.“Dadeville, Alabama.Megan Varner/GettyDadeville, Alabama.Megan Varner/GettyWant to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.“It’s a very close, tight knit community. Everybody knows everybody. That’s why this is so difficult,” Ben Hayes, the chaplain of the Dadeville High School’s football team, told CNN. “I knew these kids personally, most people did.“President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden said they “are praying for [the victims'] families” ina statementover the weekend. “What has our nation come to when children cannot attend a birthday party without fear?” the president said.The shooting began around 10:30 pm local time, according to theMontgomeryAdvertiser.ATwitter pagefor the high school said Sunday all four victims had been identified. McDowell told ABC News a girl also died in the shooting, identifying her only as a senior and a manager of the school’s track and football teams.The ALEA has yet to announce any arrests in connection with the shooting. In a statement Sunday, the ALEA said officials “are working diligently to conduct a thorough and methodical investigation, to bring justice to bear to the victims and their loved ones.”
Dowdell.Photo: Phil Dowdell Facebook; Keke Nicole Smith Facebook
Two of the four fatal victims in anAlabama mass shootingSaturday night have been identified as high school students, according to reports.Family and friends identified Philstavious “Phil” Dowdell and Shaunkivia “Keke” Smith as two of the victims who died over the weekend,CNN reportedMonday. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA)confirmedSunday that four people died and at least 28 others were injured in the shooting, which reportedly took place at Dowdell’s sister’s 16th birthday party.Smith was a student athletic manager for the Dadeville High School track team and was set to attend the University of Alabama in the fall, according to CNN. Dowdell was a standout player on the school’s football team and had a scholarship to play at Jacksonville State University in Alabama this fall, the outlet reported.“He was a very, very humble child. Never messed with anybody. Always had a smile on his face,” Dowdell’s grandmother, Annette Allen, told theMontgomeryAdvertiseron Sunday.Dowdell’s mother was also shot and is recovering from her injuries, according to the outlet.Dadeville football coach Roger McDowelltold ABC Newsthat “Phil was humble with a major smile.““He had one goal: to get to the NFL and take care of his mom,” McDowell said.Jacksonville State’s head football coach Rich Rodriguez said ina statementthat he was “heartbroken” over Dowdell’s death, calling him “a great young man with a bright future.“Dadeville, Alabama.Megan Varner/GettyDadeville, Alabama.Megan Varner/GettyWant to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.“It’s a very close, tight knit community. Everybody knows everybody. That’s why this is so difficult,” Ben Hayes, the chaplain of the Dadeville High School’s football team, told CNN. “I knew these kids personally, most people did.“President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden said they “are praying for [the victims'] families” ina statementover the weekend. “What has our nation come to when children cannot attend a birthday party without fear?” the president said.The shooting began around 10:30 pm local time, according to theMontgomeryAdvertiser.ATwitter pagefor the high school said Sunday all four victims had been identified. McDowell told ABC News a girl also died in the shooting, identifying her only as a senior and a manager of the school’s track and football teams.The ALEA has yet to announce any arrests in connection with the shooting. In a statement Sunday, the ALEA said officials “are working diligently to conduct a thorough and methodical investigation, to bring justice to bear to the victims and their loved ones.”
Two of the four fatal victims in anAlabama mass shootingSaturday night have been identified as high school students, according to reports.
Family and friends identified Philstavious “Phil” Dowdell and Shaunkivia “Keke” Smith as two of the victims who died over the weekend,CNN reportedMonday. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA)confirmedSunday that four people died and at least 28 others were injured in the shooting, which reportedly took place at Dowdell’s sister’s 16th birthday party.
Smith was a student athletic manager for the Dadeville High School track team and was set to attend the University of Alabama in the fall, according to CNN. Dowdell was a standout player on the school’s football team and had a scholarship to play at Jacksonville State University in Alabama this fall, the outlet reported.
“He was a very, very humble child. Never messed with anybody. Always had a smile on his face,” Dowdell’s grandmother, Annette Allen, told theMontgomeryAdvertiseron Sunday.
Dowdell’s mother was also shot and is recovering from her injuries, according to the outlet.
Dadeville football coach Roger McDowelltold ABC Newsthat “Phil was humble with a major smile.”
“He had one goal: to get to the NFL and take care of his mom,” McDowell said.
Jacksonville State’s head football coach Rich Rodriguez said ina statementthat he was “heartbroken” over Dowdell’s death, calling him “a great young man with a bright future.”
Dadeville, Alabama.Megan Varner/Getty
Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.
“It’s a very close, tight knit community. Everybody knows everybody. That’s why this is so difficult,” Ben Hayes, the chaplain of the Dadeville High School’s football team, told CNN. “I knew these kids personally, most people did.”
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden said they “are praying for [the victims'] families” ina statementover the weekend. “What has our nation come to when children cannot attend a birthday party without fear?” the president said.
The shooting began around 10:30 pm local time, according to theMontgomeryAdvertiser.
ATwitter pagefor the high school said Sunday all four victims had been identified. McDowell told ABC News a girl also died in the shooting, identifying her only as a senior and a manager of the school’s track and football teams.
The ALEA has yet to announce any arrests in connection with the shooting. In a statement Sunday, the ALEA said officials “are working diligently to conduct a thorough and methodical investigation, to bring justice to bear to the victims and their loved ones.”
source: people.com
