(DOTHAN, Ala.) On Saturday, July 3, 2026, at approximately 6:30 pm, Dothan Police Department received multiple calls in reference to shots fired inside Wiregrass Commons Mall. In less than two minutes multiple officers were on scene and began clearing the mall and individual businesses inside the mall. The mall and all businesses were immediately locked down as standard protocol for precaution.
No one was struck by the shots fired, however there was minimal damage to the structure of the mall.
Investigators are currently reviewing multiple video cameras in order to identify the shooter.
Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to call the Dothan Police Department at 334-615-3000.
All persons are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Joseph Ryan Baxter – Unlawful Distribution of a Controlled Substance, Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance x2, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Shane Allison Clifton – Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance
Brian Cary Jenkins – Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance x2, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Willie Kentrell Russaw – Certain Persons Forbidden to Possess Firearm
Malik Travil Williams – Domestic Violence 3rd
Randolph Williams Jr – Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
(DOTHAN, Ala.) On June 28, 2026, just before 2:00 pm, the Dothan Traffic Division responded to a motor vehicle crash with serious injuries at the intersection of South Lena Street and West Lafayette Street. According to reports, a vehicle ran the stop sign and collided with another vehicle going through the intersection. The vehicle that ran the stop sign was a 2016 Toyota Camry driven by a 12-year-old juvenile. A juvenile passenger was ejected from the vehicle after the crash.
As investigators were investigating the cause of the crash, surveillance videos in the area showed the Camry and a 2014 Hyundai Elantra driven by Jadyn Ruth Smith (20) of Daleville were racing through the residential streets prior to the crash. The video also showed the passenger who was ejected sitting on the windowsill of the rear door prior to the crash. The vehicle driven by Smith also had two juvenile passengers sitting on the rear windowsills of the door while engaging in reckless conduct. The video showed the vehicle driven by the 12-year-old run the stop sign and colliding with another vehicle proceeding through the intersection that did not have a stop sign.
The 14-year-old juvenile who was ejected was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries and was later transferred to another hospital in North Alabama, where he remains in critical condition.
As a result of the investigation, investigators charged the 12-year-old juvenile with four counts of Assault 1st degree. The juvenile was placed in the Southeast Alabama Diversion Center. Jadyn Smith was also charged with four counts of Assault 1st degree. Smith was booked into the Houston County Jail with bonds totaling $120,000. The legal guardian of the 12-year-old, Brenda Bragg Raines (72) of Dothan, was charged with one count of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor for allowing the juvenile to take the vehicle with permission. Raines was booked into the Houston County Jail with a $6,000 bond.
The video shows the vehicles operating in an extremely reckless manner and in a manner that showed a complete disregard for the value of human life. Each driver is responsible for the safety of passengers and others on the road when they drive on the streets of the City of Dothan.
-Chief William E. Benny
Jadyn Ruth Smith (20) of Daleville- Four counts of Assault 1st degree, $120,000 bondsBrenda Bragg Raines (72) of Dothan- Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, $6,000 bondStill photo of surveillance video prior to crash
On June 29, 2026, Dothan Police Officers responded to reports of shots fired in the area of Carver Drive and Hutchins Street. As officers arrived in the area, they were directed to a residence in the 800 block of Hutchins where the individuals involved were reported to be hiding. Officers had all occupants exit the residence, which included four juveniles under the age of 18 and two adults both age 20 years old. As officers were getting the information of all individuals during the investigation, one subject, later identified as Brandon Tyshon Scott (20) of Dothan, gave a false name to officers.
During a search of the residence, officers found a firearm in the water tank of a toilet inside the residence. The firearm was later identified as belonging to Scott. The firearm was identified as stolen from Geneva on a previous date after running the serial number. As officers were investigating the shots fired, a robbery of a person call was being handled near the intersection of East Newton Street and Price Street. According to a description of the suspect, investigators believed Scott to be the suspect of that call.
Scott was subsequently identified as the person responsible for the robbery. Scott was charged with Robbery 1st degree, Receiving Stolen Property 2nd degree for the stolen firearm, Tampering with Physical Evidence, and Obstructing Justice Using a False Identity. Scott was booked in the Houston County Jail and is being held without bond.
Brandon Tyshon Scott (20) of Dothan- Robbery 1st degree, Receiving Stolen Property 2nd degree, Tampering with Physical Evidence, and Obstructing Justice Using False Identity, no bond
All persons are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Jada Michelle Allen – Possession of Marijuana 2nd
Shanton Markis Bailey – Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Promote Prison Contraband 2nd
David Dwayne Bass – Disorderly Conduct
Christopher Dewayne Carroll – Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance
Shania Twain Clifton – Public Intoxication
Austin Tullis Cox – Attempting to Elude a Police Officer, Criminal Mischief 1st, Reckless Endangerment, Obstructing Government Operations, Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance x4, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Resisting Arrest
Ralph Herman Fox III – Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Joseph Jerome Johnson – Domestic Violence 3rd
Paul Johnson – Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Zechariah Quantrill Jones – Tampering with Physical Evidence, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Timothy Thomas Lantz – Tampering with Physical Evidence
Brandon L Laurenzana – Public Intoxication
Charles Bernard Martin – Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance
Sincere Mykel Pope – Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Mark Wayne Robinson – Possession of Marijuana 2nd
Sterling Terrell Smith – Arrest of Fugitive from Justice
Roderick Jermine Swain – Possession of Marijuana 2nd
Jason Courtney Thompson – Resisting Arrest, Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance, Tampering with Physical Evidence
Jilvarris Jontavier Webb – Possession of Marijuana 1st
Alonzo Emanuel Wesley – Theft of Property 4th
Cody Lynn Burgan – Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Jamarcus Deshawn Carter – Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
David Orehouse Edmond – Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Marijuana 2nd
Racheal Freeman – Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Michael Deon Gardner – Possession of Marijuana 2nd
Hanson Jamall Guice – Possession of Marijuana 2nd
Sky’ee Ellissa Breyanna Lester – Possssion of Marijuana 2nd
Darryl Andra Parker Jr – Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Kelsea Grace Taylor – Possession of Marijuana 2nd
Lester Leon Thomas Jr – Possession of Marijuana 2nd
(DOTHAN, Ala.) On Thursday, June 25, 2026, the Dothan Police Department responded to the 600 block of South Lena Street to investigate a report of suspected child neglect.
The investigation began after apartment maintenance personnel responded to a unit following reports of water leaking from the apartment. While attempting to locate the source of the leak, maintenance staff discovered a young child alone inside the two-story apartment.
Officers determined that the child, who is younger than 12 years old, was alone without adult supervision. The child was wearing only a shirt, and upon further investigation the apartment was determined to be in extremely unsanitary and unsafe living conditions. There was no food available in the residence, and the child’s sleeping area did not meet minimal acceptable living standards. It was also learned that the child is non-verbal and has intellectual developmental disabilities, requiring a heightened level of care and supervision.
The investigation revealed that the child’s mother had left the residence the previous evening and had traveled to engage in prostitution for financial gain. The mother was identified as Nykera Latrese Rich (27) of Dothan. Investigators contacted Rich, who was out of town at the time of the initial investigation. Rich returned to Dothan several hours later and turned herself in to the Dothan Police Department.
Dothan Police Department worked alongside the Houston County Department of Human Resources (DHR). Once the facts of the case were learned, DHR took custody of the child present along with a sibling who was not present at the time of this incident. Rich was charged with one count of Torture/Willful Abuse of a Child. Her bond was set at $15,000.
-Chief William E. Benny
Nykera Latrese Rich (27) of Dothan- Torture/Willful Abuse of a Child, $15,000 bond
(DOTHAN, Ala.) On June 24, 2026, around 6:30 pm, the Dothan Communications Center received a call about a person shot inside a residence in the 400 block of Donna Drive. Officers rushed to the scene and found a teenager under the age of 18 suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. Emergency medical aid was rendered by officers on scene, and treatment was turned over to Dothan Fire medics upon their arrival. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment. The juvenile will be transferred to another hospital for further treatment. The injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
As investigators arrived on scene to collect evidence, it was discovered the victim and another teenager under the age of 18 were recording an amateur music video that involved a real, loaded firearm as a prop. During the recording, the suspect discharged a round from the firearm that struck the victim. The suspect then fled the scene after the shooting. The suspect was later found at apartments on South Ussery Street and taken into custody without incident.
The juvenile was charged as an adult with Assault 1st degree and booked into jail. Due to Alabama law concerning juvenile privacy, no further information can be released.
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