Two teenagers have been charged with murder following a weekend shooting at a 16th birthday celebration in Alabama that left four dead and 32 injured.
Ty Reik McCullough, 17, and Travis McCullough, 16, were arrested Tuesday evening, according to police.
The suspects have each been charged with four counts of reckless homicide, and additional charges are anticipated, according to the authorities.
The prosecutor indicated that the suspects will be prosecuted as adults.
At a press conference on Wednesday, officials told reporters that the investigation into the Saturday shooting in Dadeville was just commencing and provided few details. There was no mention of a motive or the type of weapon used.
According to police, of the 32 persons injured, four remain hospitalised and four are in critical condition.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEASergeant )’s Jeremy Burkett stated, “We will ensure that justice is served to each and every victim, not just the deceased.”
The agency added, “These individuals have been charged as a result of a complex and exhaustive investigation conducted with the assistance of numerous law enforcement agencies.”
Since the shooting, police had provided few details on any suspects in the case prior to Wednesday.
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In a U.S. shooting, a brother perished saving a birthday girl’s life.
District Attorney Mike Segrest acknowledged this, stating, “I am aware that our community and the media have been frustrated by the paucity of information that has been provided thus far.”
The deceased victims have been identified as 19-year-old Marsiah Collins, 18-year-old Phil Dowdell, 23-year-old Corbin Holston, and 17-year-old Shaunkivia Smith.
Mr. Dowdell perished while attempting to save his sister Alexis, according to his family. He was a star player on his high school’s American football team and was set to graduate and receive a sports scholarship to Jacksonville State University.
One of his school football teammates and closest companions told the BBC: “Phil was an exceptional friend to me. God’s got an emissary.”
Approximately fifty people attended the celebration, which was held at a local dance studio.
Dadeville, a hamlet of approximately 3,000 people, is located approximately 60 miles (100 kilometres) northeast of the state capital, Montgomery.
The two suspects are reportedly from Tuskegee, Alabama, which is approximately a 40-minute commute from Dadeville.
Sergeant Burkett implored those who attended the dance studio party to contact authorities if they have not done so already.
“We require your assistance for these families and victims,” he said.
More than 160 mass shootings have occurred in the United States this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which defines such incidents as those in which four or more people are shot.
