DADEVILLE, Ala. — Police on Thursday announced a fifth arrest in connection with a shooting that left four people dead and dozens more injured Saturday at a teenager’s birthday party in Dadeville.
Willie George Brown Jr., 19, of Auburn, was booked into Tallapoosa County Jail on four counts of reckless murder, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. His arrest came after police announced earlier Thursday that they had arrested a fourth shooting suspect, 20-year-old Johnny Letron Brown.
**FIFTH ARREST**
— Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (@ALEAprotects) April 20, 2023
On Thursday, April 20, Special
Agents with the ALEA SBI, made a 5th arrest in connection to the Tallapoosa County death investigation in Dadeville. Willie George Brown Jr., 19, of Auburn, was arrested and formally charged with four counts of Reckless Murder. pic.twitter.com/9aZCGGIqyt
Earlier, authorities arrested 20-year-old Wilson LaMarr Hill Jr., of Auburn; 17-year-old Ty Reik McCullough, of Tuskegee; and 16-year-old Travis McCullough, also of Tuskegee. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said the shooting suspects have each been charged with four counts of reckless murder and booked into the Tallapoosa County Jail with no bond.
Authorities said Wednesday that the suspects will also face charges in connection with the 32 people who were injured Saturday.
The arrests come after gunfire erupted during a Sweet 16 party at a dance studio in downtown Dadeville. Mike Segrest, district attorney for Alabama’s fifth circuit, said the party was to celebrate Alexis “Lexi” Dowdell’s birthday, with attendees coming from throughout the area.
“There were so many kids in this venue, and what they saw, it’s — they’re victims in this. Their families are victims of this, and the ripple effect of this, you know, it’s kind of like a wave rolling across Lake Martin, but that ripple didn’t stop when it hit the banks,” he said. “There are other communities involved.”
Dowdell’s 18-year-old brother was among the four people killed. Authorities have identified the slain victims as Shaunkivia Nicole “KeKe” Smith, 17; Philstavious “Phil” Dowdell, 18; Marsiah Emmanuel “Siah” Collins, 19; and Corbin Dehmontrey Holston, 23.
