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4 Killed, 28 Injured at Birthday Party as U.S. Suffers Another Deadly Weekend of Gun Violence

HeadlineApr 17, 2023

The U.S. marked another deadly weekend of gun violence. In the small town of Dadeville, Alabama, a shooter opened fire in a room full of teenagers celebrating a “Sweet 16” birthday party, killing four people and injuring 28 others. Among the dead was star student athlete Phil Dowdell, who was remembered by a coach and teacher at his high school.

Mardracus Russell: “Great student athlete. You know, not only did he win — excuse me. Not only did he win the 100 and 200 last year, but, you know, he set goals to be able to play and to be able to win that. And just he’s so goal-oriented, always had a smile on his face, just willing to help anybody.”

Elsewhere, a shooter opened fire on a crowd of hundreds at a park in Louisville, Kentucky, killing two. This came as Louisville is still reeling from a mass shooting at a bank last Monday that claimed five lives.

A shooting in West Oahu, Hawaii, left two people dead Friday.

Meanwhile, in Kansas City, Missouri, a Black teenager was shot and hospitalized after accidentally ringing the wrong doorbell while trying to pick up his siblings.

And in Nashville, a seven-months-pregnant woman was rushed to the hospital last week, where she had an emergency C-section, after she was shot by a Walgreens employee who said he suspected her of shoplifting. The employee claimed self-defense, even though he followed her into the store’s parking lot, where he opened fire.

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