Alabama shooting: Third person arrested, charged with 4 counts of reckless murder

DADEVILLE, Ala. — A third person was arrested on Wednesday in connection with a deadly shooting at a dance hall studio that killed four people and injured 32 in a small Alabama town, authorities said.

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Wilson LaMar Hill Jr., 20, of Auburn, was taken into custody about 2:30 p.m. CDT, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Hill is charged with four counts of reckless murder in the shooting that occurred on Saturday at a Sweet 16 party in Dadeville. The shooting took place at the Mahogany Masterpiece Dance Studio.

Earlier Wednesday, Sgt. Jeremy Burkett of the ALEA said that said Ty Reik McCullough, 17, and Travis McCullough, 16, both of Tuskegee, were arrested Tuesday night and were also charged with four counts each of reckless murder. Mike Segrest, district attorney for Alabama’s fifth circuit, said they will also face charges related to the dozens of people who were injured.

Reckless murder is a Class A felony, the Montgomery Advertiser reported. If convicted, the trio could face between 10 to 99 years in prison.

Ty Reik McCullough, who played football at Booker T. Washington High School, and Hill are being held without bond in the Tallapoosa County Jail, AL.com reported. Authorities did not say where Travis McCullough is being held.

The McCulloughs are being charged as adults. Additional charges are expected, WRBL-TV reported.

Among the 32 injured, four remain in critical condition, according to the television station.

“The Dadeville Police Department is going to do everything we can to ensure we have a successful prosecution for you,” Dadeville Police Chief Jonathan Floyd said on Wednesday. “We have one chance to get it right. We are going to make sure, and be very slow and very methodical. Making an arrest isn’t the finish line.”

Officials earlier identified the slain victims as Shaunkivia Nicole “KeKe” Smith, 17; Philstavious “Phil” Dowdell, 18; Marsiah Emmanuel “Siah” Collins, 19; and Corbin Dehmontrey Holston, 23. They were shot and killed during a Sweet 16 party at the Mahogany Masterpiece dance studio just after 10:30 p.m. CDT on Saturday, authorities said.

The party was for Alexis “Lexi” Dowdell’s birthday, Segrest said.

An investigation continues, authorities said.

“We’ve still got four that are in the hospital, four that are in critical condition,” Segrest said. “This is just the tip of the iceberg.”

“There is a tremendous amount of work to do. We’re going to be careful with everything we say and everything we do,” Burkett said. “We’re going to stay focused on the victims and their families.”

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Dadeville: A mourner holds a candle during Sunday's vigil in Dadeville, Alabama. Residents of the small town gathered to pray for the victims of Saturday's mass shooting. ( Megan Varner/Getty Images)

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