Dadeville birthday party shooting: What court records reveal about 4 homicides
Court records were released Thursday against three of the five people charged in the Dadeville Sweet 16 birthday party shooting that killed four people and injured 32 others.
Killed in the shooting were Philstavious “Phil” Dowdell, 18, Shaunkivia Nicole “Keke” Smith, 17, Marsiah Emmanuel “Siah” Collins, 19, and Corbin Dahmontrey Holston, 23.
Those charged with reckless murder and being held in the Tallapoosa County Jail are: 20-year-old Johnny Letron Brown of Tuskegee; 19-year-old Willie George Brown Jr. of Auburn; 20-year-old Wilson LaMar Hill Jr. of Auburn, and brothers Ty Reik McCullough, 17, and Travis McCullough, 16, of Tuskeegee.
Depositions in the cases of Johnny Brown and Willie Brown Jr. said they were present and fired into the crowd, causing the deaths of the four victims.
Johnny Brown’s court appointed attorney, David Dawson, said he has not yet had a chance to speak to his client and had just filed a notice of appearance.
Charging documents against Hill state that he, Travis McCullough and Tyreese McCullough, who also goes by Ty Reik McCullough, were present and discharged firearms into the crowd, causing the deaths of the four victims.
Hill’s attorney Jake Key said was just appointed Thursday afternoon to represent Hill and did not want to make a comment until he has meet with his client.
Efforts to reach Willie Brown’s attorney, George Bulls, for comment weren’t immediately successful.
The attorneys were appointed by Tallapoosa County District Judge Clayton Kim Taylor.
Under Alabama law, the crime of reckless murder is committed when a person recklessly engages in conduct which creates a grave risk of death to a person other than himself or herself and causes the death of another person.
The cases are set for first call on May 23.
The case files against the McCullough brothers have not yet been made available through online court records. It wasn’t immediately known if they have attorneys to comment on their behalf.
Earlier this week, District Attorney Mike Segrest said any suspects would have a hearing within 72 hours of their arrest, which would be followed by a preliminary hearing in the upcoming weeks.
It was not clear through court records if any of those hearings have yet been held.
Authorities have previously said that more charges are expected in the wounding of the many surviving victims.
“When I tell you this is just the tip of the iceburg…we’re going to make sure everyone of those victims has justice and not just the deceased,’’ Segrest said.
“The ripple effect of this is like a wave rolling across Lake Martin,’’ Segrest said. “But that ripple didn’t stop when it hit the banks.”
LaTonya Allen, whose 18-year-old son Philstavious “Phil” Dowdell was killed in the gunfire at his sister’s birthday part, said Thursday she doesn’t know any of the five charged and doesn’t think most of them were inside the party for her daughter, Alexis.
“I just remember one of those faces,’’ Allen said of the suspects. “The others may have been outside waiting. I just don’t know.”
Allen said she wished they had been charged with a more serious crime, but she’s confident justice will be served.
“I’m just glad they’re off the streets and they won’t harm anyone else’s kids or family,’’ she said. “I hope they get what they deserve.”