Two teen brothers and a 20-year-old man were arrested Saturday in connection with a mass shooting at a Sweet 16 event in Deville, Alabama, that left four people dead and 32 injured.
Brothers Ty Rick McCullough, 17, and Travis McCullough, 16, of Tuskegee, were arrested, Alabama law enforcement agencies announced Wednesday morning.
Late Wednesday afternoon, ALEA confirmed the arrest of a third suspect, Wilson Lamar Hill Jr., 20, of Auburn.
All three were charged with four counts of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Alabama law enforcement officer Jeremy Burkett spoke Wednesday in the first police press conference since Sunday about the shooting.
District Attorney Mike Segrest said the juvenile siblings will be charged as adults.
“Make no mistake, this is Alabama. If you pull out a gun and start shooting people, we’re going to put you in jail.” Burkett said.
The state government demanded that the juvenile be taken into custody without bond. Alabama law requires bond hearings for juveniles by Friday.
According to Segrest, four victims are still hospitalized in critical condition and more charges are being filed against the teens.
This fall, birthday girl Alexis Dowdell’s older brother, Phil Dowdell, who graduated from high school and will play wide receiver at Jacksonville State University, has died.
Other victims were Marcia Emmanuel “Sia Collins, 19, an aspiring musician; Corbin Dahmontery Holston, 23, a former student athlete who graduated from Dadeville High School in 2018; and Shaunivia Nicole “Keke” Smith, 17, a senior at Dadeville High School and former manager of the school’s basketball and track teams.
“We will make sure that justice is served to all victims, not just the dead,” Segrest said.
Grand jurors in Tallapoosa County typically meet in March and September, but Seagrest said he will convene grand jurors before September to seek an indictment.
“If I can prove the facts, I will ask the grand jury to reappear,” Segrest said.
Police have not been able to ascertain the reason behind the firing which took place at around 10:30 pm. at Mahogany Masterpiece Dance Studio in downtown Dadeville, about 60 miles from the state capital, Montgomery.
According to NBC, Segrest said, “There are 16 uncut cakes and 16 unlit candles.” “Lexi’s brother was also one of the victims. At her 16th birthday party, she knelt beside her brother as he breathed his last. We’re dealing with it.”
Burkett could not share whether the two juvenile suspects in the shooting were incarcerated or were already in custody when charged in the case.
Authorities have not yet announced trial dates for the three suspects.
“We cannot determine a motive at this time because it is part of an ongoing investigation,” Burkett said. “We can’t share it.”
According to Alabama law enforcement, police found only a pistol casing at the scene.
Authorities have not shared details about what type of weapon was used in the shooting, but continued to urge the public for information, including videos.
Burkett said, “If you were at the event that night, if you were physically at the event, if you didn’t come forward that means you didn’t contact law enforcement, please listen to me. I hope you Will listen.” “We want you to come forward for the families of the victims.”