Alabama mass shooting: Victims include Jacksonville State football recruit

Correspondent Bryan Llenas reports the latest on the mass shooting. 

One of those killed at a mass shooting in Dadeville, Alabama, Saturday was reportedly a high school athlete who was headed to Jacksonville State on a football scholarship this fall. 

Phil Dowdell, a senior in high school due to graduate in mere weeks, was shot and killed while celebrating his sister Alexis' sweet 16 birthday party, his grandmother, Annette Allen, told The Montgomery Advertiser. "He was a very, very humble child. Never messed with anybody. Always had a smile on his face," Allen said, noting her grandson's "a million-dollar smile."

Allen told the newspaper multiple teens were shot at the party, as well as Dowdell's mother, who sustained two gunshot wounds. "Everybody's grieving," Allen said.

Dowdell was also identified as one of the deceased victims by Ben Hayes, who is the senior pastor at Dadeville First Baptist Church, the team chaplain of Dadeville High School and chaplain of Dadeville police. Hayes told Al.com that Dowdell, a Dadeville football player, had recently committed to Jacksonville State University to play wide receiver.

ALABAMA MASS SHOOTING: 4 CONFIRMED DEAD, REPORTS OF AT LEAST 20 INJURED AT TEENAGER'S BIRTHDAY PARTY 

Crowds line up behind police tape at the scene of a mass shooting in Dadeville, Alabama.  (The Alexander City Outlook )

Fox News Digital reached out to Jacksonville State University for comment, but the athletics department said it could not immediately confirm any details. 

So far, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency has confirmed "four fatalities" and "multiple injuries" after gunfire erupted at approximately 10:34 p.m. near the 200 Block of Broadnax Street in Dadeville, located in Tallapoosa County.