A bullet gap is seen within the glass transom over the door on the Mahogany Masterpiece dance studio in Dadeville, Ala., on April 16, 2023.

Jeff Amy/AP

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Jeff Amy/AP

A bullet gap is seen within the glass transom over the door on the Mahogany Masterpiece dance studio in Dadeville, Ala., on April 16, 2023.

Jeff Amy/AP

DADEVILLE, Ala. — An Alabama investigator on Tuesday described a bloody, chaotic crime scene plagued by 89 bullet casings and different proof after a shooting killed four young people and wounded dozens at a Sweet Sixteen party. Authorities have charged six individuals with reckless homicide.

The lead investigator within the case testified at a courtroom listening to that would decide if the three adults accused in final week’s taking pictures will probably be held with out bond. The three juvenile defendants can have separate hearings. The decide didn’t instantly situation a ruling.

“Multiple shell casings. Blood everywhere,” Special Agent Jess Thornton mentioned. The crime scene was like nothing he’d encountered in 18 years with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, he mentioned.

Shell casings from 4 forms of handguns had been recovered on the dance studio simply off the city sq. in Dadeville, about an hour’s drive northeast of Montgomery, Thornton mentioned.

Evidence signifies not less than one of many handguns had been altered for fast hearth, he mentioned. “Witnesses said it sounded like a machine gun.”

Investigators haven’t mentioned a motive or what they imagine led to the taking pictures. Thornton mentioned the six defendants are relations or associates. They weren’t invited to the get together however had travelled from Auburn and Tuskegee to attend it.

Thornton mentioned 5 of the six defendants admitting being on the get together and firing weapons. The sixth suspect didn’t admit being there, however the co-defendants mentioned he was there and fired a gun, Thornton mentioned. The investigator mentioned not less than 5 of the six met after the get together at a parking zone in a close-by metropolis.

The three grownup defendants are Wilson LaMar Hill Jr., 20, of Auburn; Johnny Letron Brown, 20, of Tuskegee; and Willie George Brown Jr., 19, additionally of Auburn.

However, a protection lawyer advised that one of many slain partygoers had fired first.

George Bulls, a lawyer for Willie Brown, requested the state investigator if there have been not less than some statements about one of many deceased people, Corbin Holston, being the one who began the taking pictures.

Thornton replied that was true.

Thornton testified that Holston, 23, of Dadeville, was discovered with a 40-caliber gun sitting on his chest. Thornton mentioned the place of the gun, which had been fired, struck him as odd. “Almost like it was placed there,” Thornton mentioned.

Thornton mentioned there have been about 50 to 60 individuals crammed contained in the get together venue, which measured about 38 ft (12 meters) by 26 ft (8 meters), when the gunfire erupted.

Earlier within the night there was a loud noise when a speaker fell over and not less than one particular person lifted their shirt to point they’d a gun, Thornton mentioned. That led to an announcement telling individuals with weapons to depart. The taking pictures occurred shortly after, he mentioned. He didn’t say if the one who lifted their shirt was one of many defendants.

Two Dadeville High School seniors, Phil Dowdell, 18, and Shaunkivia Nicole “KeKe” Smith, 17, had been killed. Also killed had been Marsiah Emmanuel “Siah” Collins, 19, and Holston, 23.