DAPHNE — Attorney General Steve Marshall responded to criticism of possible plea deals in the deadly mass shooting at a Sweet 16 party in Dadeville.
Of the six suspects, five are scheduled for a plea hearing rather than a trial. The sixth suspect was charged as a youthful offender, so that case is sealed.
Willie Brown, Jr., Tyreese McCullough, Travis McCullough, Sherman Peters III and Wilson Hill could sign plea deals in lieu of a trial.
Shaunkivia Nicole Smith, 17, of Dadeville, Marsiah Emmanuel Collins, 19, of Opelika, Corbin Dahmontrey Holston, 23, of Dadeville, and Philstavious Dowdell, 18, of Camp Hill, were shot and killed on April 15, 2023. 25 others were injured.
The suspects are charged with four counts of reckless murder, 24 counts of first-degree assault and one count of second-degree assault.
Marshall said he hopes the victims' families have input on the proceedings.
“I've met with multiple family members of those that were killed and had discussions with them several months ago about the case,” Marshall said. “We encourage them to have communication with the DA's office to have an understanding, number one, of the strengths and the weaknesses of the case, potential resolution, as well as the opportunity to be able to try it, and just as every DA has to make decisions about cases moving forward, the hope is that victims have an opportunity to have input on what's going on.”
Fifth Judicial Circuit of Alabama Mike Segrest outlined challenges faced by prosecutors.
One of the challenges in the case is that the county would have to conduct individual trials. Segrest said the earliest a trial would be likely would be in 2027. Marshall said that is why the legislature passed the Speedy Trial Act, to expedite trials for violent criminal cases, reduce court backlogs, and ensure swift justice for victims.
“One thing that I think many people lose sight of is in our rural jurisdictions, there are very few jury terms that occur every year which can create that backlog and particularly for example in the Dadeville shooting, we have multiple offenders in a smaller circuit that can create a backlog,” Marshall explained. “Macon County, for example, only had two jury terms a year to be able to deal with their crimes and so the Speedy Trial Act is designed to be a vehicle for local prosecutors to be able to tap in to retired judges to be able to move forward and so that's a hope that that would be some benefit to them and it has already been a benefit in a couple cases we've already seen.”
Segrest said even with a trial, there is no guarantee of a guilty verdict.
“Any plea agreement would eliminate the risk and emotional agony of trials, a waiver of any appeals, and a final adjudication of all the cases with consistent outcomes for all the defendants,” Segrest stated. “It would be my prayer that this could bring closure and let the healing process begin.”
The plea hearing is set for 9 a.m. on March 27.
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