Mother of teen shot at Dadeville birthday party prays for healing, justice: ‘God will handle it’

Mother of teen shot at Dadeville birthday party prays for healing, justice: ‘God will handle it’

Bre Hutchinson was listening to music and dancing with friends when the unthinkable happened.

The 16-year-old Tallassee High School sophomore was having fun at Alexis Dowdell’s Sweet 16 birthday party, and the next thing she knew she was on the floor, shot, bleeding and trying to find her way out of chaos after gunfire erupted inside the party.

“She heard the shots, and everybody went to running,’’ said her mother, Vicky Brown Hutchinson. “She fell and her leg went up and that’s when she got shot.”

Bre has undergone one surgery and is facing another today. The bullet struck her pelvis and remains lodged in her hip.

“She’s not really showing emotion,’’ her mother said. “But she’s in a lot of pain.”

“I’m so scared and never thought I would be going through this,’’ Bre wrote on Facebook, “but I know God is on my side and he’s gone continue to bless me.”

In a video interview with ABC 33/40 from her hospital bed, Bre said, “nobody would help me so I had to like gain my strength and like walk outside after being shot.”

Bre is one of 32 people injured when what appears to be a shootout erupted inside the private event venue Mahogany’s Masterpiece.

One of her classmates, 16-year-old Cara Johns, remains in critical condition at a Columbus hospital.

Four others were killed: Corbin Dahmontrey Holston, 23, a Dadeville High School graduate; Marsiah Emmanuel “Siah” Collins, 19, an Opelika High School graduate; Philstavious Dowdell, 18, and Shaunkivia Nicole “Keke” Smith, 17, both Dadeville High Schools seniors.

The birthday party drew teens from around Dadeville, Tallassee and Pike Road.

“I didn’t know the girl whose party it was but I knew her friends she was going with and so I thought it was fine,’’ her mother said. “We’ve never had a problem like this.”

Bre Hutchinson was one of 32 people injured when shooting erupted at a Dadeville birthday party on April 15, 2023. Four others were killed. (Special to AL.com.)

Few details have been released by investigators.

Keenan Cooper, the DJ at the party, told WBMA-TV the event was stopped briefly when partygoers heard someone had a gun. He said people with weapons were asked to leave, but no one did.

Soon after, the shooting started.

Alexis Dowdell told the Associated Press she dove to the floor near the DJ as the dozens of revelers ran. She “didn’t know where to run,” in part because shots seemed to come from multiple directions.

When there was a break in the gunfire, Alexis bolted for the front door. But someone pushed her. It was Phil, trying to protect her.

“I guess he tried to push me out the door as fast as he could, but I ended up slipping on blood, because it was a whole bunch of blood on the floor,” she said.

Bodies were piled by the door, too, “so I had to crawl over people to get out,” Alexis said.

From what little information has been released, it appears there may have been multiple shooters.

Alabama State Trooper Sgt. Jeremy Burkett on Monday evening said investigators did not recover any high-powered rifle ammunition at the scene but said they did recover numerous shell casings used in handguns.

“Investigators are still processing all of the evidence, in conjunction with completing interviews, in an effort to solidify a motive, and potential suspects,” Burkett said.

Authorities have not said whether they have identified any suspects. They are pleading with partygoers or anyone else with information to come forward.

Hutchinson said she has no words for the terror that unfolded that night for her daughter and her daughter’s friends.

“It seems like a dream to me,’’ she said. “It’s devastating.”

She is asking for prayers, not only for her daughter and the other victims, but also that justice be delivered.

To the shooters, she says this: “You’ve got to face judgement and your punishment. God will handle it all.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.