Alabama police search for clues in shooting that killed four at teen party

Students at a small-town Alabama school, its flag flying at half-mast Monday, returned to class as investigators worked to piece together what happened at a Saturday night shooting that killed four people, including two Dadeville high school students.

Relatives had identified Dowdell and Smith on Sunday.

Dowdell was a Dadeville high school student who planned to attend Jacksonville State University to play football.

Smith was also a Dadeville high school senior who managed the basketball and track teams.

Collins had played football at Opelika high school before graduating in 2022, his father, Martin Collins, told AL.com. Collins was an aspiring rapper and his father said he planned to attend Louisiana State University, where the father is a law student.

Keenan Cooper, the DJ at the party, told WBMA-TV the party was stopped briefly when attendees heard someone had a gun. He said people with guns were asked to leave, but no one left. Cooper said when the shooting began some time later, some people took shelter under a table where he was standing, and others ran out.

At least five bullet holes were visible in the windows of the front of the dance studio on Sunday. Investigators combed the scene for more than 12 hours, including climbing on to the roof of the one-story brick building to look for evidence.

Antojuan Woody, from the neighboring town of Camp Hill, was a senior and fellow wide receiver with Dowdell on a Dadeville Tigers football team that went undefeated before losing in the second round of the playoffs last year. He said he and Dowdell had been best friends for all of their lives.