Alexis Dowdell, who was celebrating her 16th birthday at a dance studio in rural Dadeville, Alabama, has told the media that her brother Phil Dowdell saved her life before he died in her arms during a shooting that killed four people in Alabama.
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Phil, 18, had come to the party to get Alexis after hearing rumours that someone had a gun. Their mother, LaTonya Allen, also heard the rumours and asked whoever had a firearm to leave the party, but when no one spoke up, she turned the lights off.

Shortly after, gunfire erupted, and Alexis said she heard people falling and screaming while running towards the door.

Her brother pushed her to the ground, and they were separated in the chaos. She escaped and hid outside in case the attacker was still on the loose, and later went back inside to find her brother shot.

“The last thing I told him was to stay strong,” she said.

Phil had lost a lot of blood, and Alexis stayed with him as he drifted in and out of consciousness. He was unable to speak, but he opened his eyes and raised his eyebrows as she held him in her arms.

Thirty-two others were injured in the attack, and police have yet to identify a suspect or a motive.
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