Argument at child’s dance recital leads to shooting, killing 1, Alabama cops say
A 27-year-old dad was shot and killed at his daughter’s dance recital in Alabama, according to police and loved ones.
Officers responded to the shooting at about 6:30 p.m. Sunday, June 1, at Saenger Theatre, the Mobile Police Department said in a June 2 news release.
Police said two men were involved in an altercation when one of the men pulled out a gun and shot Carl Williams III, killing him. Another person was also hit with the bullet and taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, police said.
“To bring this to a child’s dance recital is despicable,” Mobile Police Chief William Jackson said about the shooting, according to the release.
The suspected shooter, identified as 27-year-old Marcus Sanders, ran away and later turned himself in, police said.
He is charged with murder and assault, according to police.
Keyon Williams, Carl Williams’ uncle, told AL.com he was “selfless” and was always supporting his two daughters.
“Please pray for our family. Words can’t explain the pain our family is feeling right now. Lil Carl is legacy,” Keyon Williams said in a June 2 post on Facebook.
Kenesha Carey, director of Danze 101, the dance company hosting the recital, addressed the shooting in a June 2 statement on Facebook
“It is with a heavy heart that I write to you today, following the tragic event that unfolded at our recital,” Carey wrote. “Our community has been profoundly affected, and I want to extend my deepest condolences to everyone involved.”
This story was originally published June 2, 2025 at 4:26 PM with the headline "Argument at child’s dance recital leads to shooting, killing 1, Alabama cops say."
