A teenager killed in a mass shooting at his sister's birthday party died in her arms after heroically risking his life to save hers.
Four people are confirmed to have died following the shooting on Saturday night at a dance studio in the small city of Dadeville, Alabama. A further 32 people were injured.
One of the victims has been named as high school football star Phil Dowdell, the brother of birthday girl Alexis Dowdell.
Phil, 18, had come to the party after hearing someone present had a gun and becoming concerned for his sister.
Alexis' mum had also heard the rumours, turned the lights on and asked whoever had a firearm to leave the party.
But after no one spoke up she turned the lights off again. It was then the shooting suddenly began.
Alexis told the BBC: "All of a sudden you hear gunshots and you just see everybody running towards the door and people falling and screaming."
Her brother rushed to her side and pushed her to the ground but they became separated in the chaos.
She managed to escape and hide, fearing the attacker was still on the loose.
When she went back inside she discovered her brother had been shot.
As he lay dying she cradled him in her arms. He was unable to talk but opened his eyes as she held him.
She said: "The last thing I told him was to stay strong."
Police have yet to name a suspect or a motive behind the shooting.
Since the awful shooting, tributes have poured in for the slain teenager.
"He was a very, very humble child," grandmother Annette Allen said, according to Montgomery Advertiser.
"Never messed with anybody. Always had a smile on his face."
The teen recently joined Jacksonville State University and had a bright future ahead of him, according to his coaches.
Tallapoosa County Coroner Mike Knox confirmed the victims are Philstavious Dowdell, 18, Corbin Dahmontrey Holston, 23, Shaunkivia Nicole Smith, 17, and Marsiah Emmanuel Collins, 19.
Hospital officials revealed some critical patient transfers were delayed after bad weather prevented the emergency helicopter from taking off.
Mayor of Dadeville Jimmy Frank Goodman Sr said the scene at the hospital after the shooting was worse than what he had witnessed during his time in the Vietnam War.
"There were people crying, bodies going into the emergency room and bloody clothes on the ground," he told the BBC.
Michael Taylor, assistant coach in football, basketball and track at Dadeville High, told local media: "It's a small town.
"We don't have too many crimes like this, at all. So it's shocking, very shocking. Very shocking."
He explained he didn't know what sparked the shooting, other than an argument - a rumour which has been rife since the incident broke out.
"This is a good family in our community, good kids," said a shaken Hayes. "Some of the best people heading to this party."
