Students killed in Alabama shooting had bright futures ahead of them, says pastor 

Pastor Ben Hayes said he is trying to help the grieving community – emotionally, spiritually and financially.

Hayes is the senior pastor at First Baptist Church in Dadeville, Ala., where four young people were killed and dozens more injured in a shooting at a Sweet 16 birthday party on Saturday night.

The dead included Shaunkivia Nicole (Keke) Smith, 17, Philstavious (Phil) Dowdell, 18, Marsiah Emmanuel (Siah) Collins, 19, and Corbin Dahmontrey Holston, 23, the county coroner said Friday. The party was for Dowdell’s sister’s birthday.

Authorities have been tight-lipped about the investigation so far. It is unclear who started the shooting and why, or whether police have made any arrests. Sgt. Jeremy Burkett of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency did not take questions during a news conference Sunday, and officials repeatedly asked others to come forward with information about the shooting.

Hayes – who has spoken with survivors – described the shooter as a boy, and said the kids at the party said he did not recognize the man.

Hayes is the senior pastor at Dadeville First Baptist Church, and is the chaplain for the Dadeville Police Department and the Dadeville High School football team. He personally knew the two victims. Here is part of the conversation on Saturday afternoon with As it happens hosted by Nil Koksal.

Pastor Hayes, I am so sorry that this has happened to you and your community. How are you this morning?

His body was tired. We are physically weak [and] emotionally. But on my journey through the community this morning, we’re doing pretty well.

We’re looking at the names of the four people who died in the shooting, four young men. What can you tell me about a young person you know?

I know Phil Dowdell [and] Cake. Both of these are athletes at our high school.

I don’t know Keke very well. I know him by looking at him and talking to him. He is a manager for several teams and he is a special person, because he will do anything in the world for you. He helps out wherever he can.

Phil I have known since I was the Dadeville football team chaplain. Phil was a bright star. He has a very bright future ahead of him. Phil had a smile that when he walked into the room, it just brightened up. He has a personality like you wouldn’t believe. A strong competitor on the field, but only a good person off the field. Everyone loves him. Everyone respects him.

WATCH | Dadeville teacher Phil Dowdell remembers at the vigil:

Everything I’ve read underlines what you’ve said. You know, these two are like young people involved in everything they like, involved in the community. What do you have planned for the next step in your life?

Phil has received a scholarship to play football at Jacksonville State University in Alabama. So he wants to go far. Phil is probably one of the most gifted athletes from this graduating class in the state of Alabama.

And Keke … I know she has a bright future just because of her personality, because of her strength, her energy. I think he will go far too.

How did you find out about the shooting?

I received the call. I was in bed, asleep, about 11:30 on a Saturday night. I was told that there had been a shooting and that Phil had died. I immediately went to the police chief, because I was the Dadeville police chaplain, and asked if there was any way I could help. And said they need me to go to the hospital to help with crowd control.

What is the scene there?

When I arrived, there were probably 250 people in the parking lot. Cars are everywhere. Ambulances are everywhere. Family members, friends, some students – some who had been at the party, some who had heard what happened – were there.

So sad, so sad, so shocked. This didn’t happen in Dadeville, so no one expected it. We don’t have that kind of problem here. So it’s one of those situations where you get there and you’re just part of the crowd because everyone is shocked and doesn’t know what to do.

And it’s a small place, a very connected place, right? Only a few thousand people live there?

We have over 3,000 people in Dadeville. The surrounding community is more… But it’s a small town. It’s a very close community. Everyone knows everything. And many people are related to others.

But because we are so close, we are a very strong community.

Did you have a chance to speak, pastor, to the victim’s family, his parents?

As a pastor, I have a full day on Sunday and then we do a prayer vigil for the community on Sunday night.

I didn’t have a chance to talk directly [family]. I have talked to his family – aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.

What is your Sunday service like?

Very sombre to start, but we believe there is hope.

We are a faith-based group of people in Alabama and we believe that our hope transcends the world and transcends the tragedies of the world. And when we are sad, we are also happy. We have a great time of worship when we celebrate life, when we talk about how we can get through this very difficult time with faith in Christ, and how we can use it to help those around us.

Did the authorities tell you anything about the suspect or suspects?

As a chaplain for the Dadeville Police Department and a sworn officer, I do not have the right to share that information.

OK. An investigation is underway?

An investigation is underway. We are asking the public to provide us with video feeds, any pictures of the incident.

I will tell you that the disciples I spoke to, personally, saw the man and did not know him. And that leads us to believe that he’s not from our community, because, like I said, it’s a small town and everybody knows everybody.

What will you do next, right now, for your community?

We’re trying to get the word out that we’re here to help people. We are raising money for the family. Just be aware that most of us don’t carry life insurance policies for our children, so there will be extreme costs to provide for a funeral for the family. There will be medical expenses incurred. And we’re just trying to take care of those needs by raising money for them.

We will be available in schools. We will work with the school system to be there along with other mental health providers. And we will continue to be in the community trying to help all residents cope with the critical stress incident that occurred on Saturday night.

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With files from The Associated Press. Interview produced by Katie Geleff. Q&A edited for length and clarity.