Philstavious “Phil” Dowdell, was among the four people killed at a teen’s birthday party in Alabama on Saturday night. 28 others were wounded. The shooter has not been identified so far.
A Dadeville High School senior who had committed to Jacksonville State University was celebrating his sister Alexis’ 16th birthday when he was shot to death.
“He was a very, very humble child. Never messed with anybody. Always had a smile on his face,” Allen told the newspaper, calling it “a million-dollar smile,” his grandmother Annette Allen told The Montgomery Advertiser.
“He was a strong competitor on the field,” Dadeville High School football staff member Ben Hayes described Phil as follows, “You didn’t want to try to tackle him or get tackled by him. But when he came off the field, he was one of the nicest young men that you could ever meet, very respectful and well-respected by his peers.”
Jacksonville State football coach Rich Rodriguez said in a statement Sunday: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Philstavious Dowdell and the other victims of the senseless tragedy last night. He was a great young man with a bright future. My staff and I are heartbroken and hope that everyone will support his family through this difficult time.”
“There were four lives tragically lost in this incident and there’s been a multitude of injuries,” Sargent Burkett of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said during a news conference Sunday.
Dadeville Police Chief Jonathan L. Floyd said, “What we’ve dealt with is something that no community should have to endure. I just ask for your patience. It’s going to be a long process, but I do earnestly solicit your prayers.”
The three other people killed in the mass shooting were Marsiah Emmanuel Collins, 19; Corbin Dahmontrey Holston, 23 and Shaunkivia Nicole Smith, 17.
