(DOTHAN, Ala.) On Monday, July 6, 2026, at approximately 8:30 p.m., officers with the Dothan Police Department responded to a local hospital after two individuals arrived seeking treatment for gunshot-related injuries. One of the injured parties was a juvenile under the age of 18, and the other was an adult male. Both sustained non-life-threatening injuries to a hand.
The preliminary investigation revealed that several family members were involved in a verbal dispute inside a residence in the 700 block of Hutchins Street. The dispute escalated into a physical altercation. During the incident, the juvenile retrieved a handgun from another room within the residence and returned to the area where the altercation was occurring.
An adult family member who was not involved in the physical altercation observed the juvenile in possession of the handgun and attempted to intervene in an effort to prevent its use. During a struggle over the firearm, a single round was discharged, resulting in minor injuries to the hand of both the juvenile and the adult male.
As the investigation progressed, probable cause was established to obtain a search warrant for the residence. During the execution of the search warrant, investigators located numerous firearm magazines and various types of ammunition. No firearm was recovered from the residence.
Both individuals received treatment for their injuries and were later released from the hospital.
Due to the fact a weapon was involved, the juvenile was charged as an adult with one count of Assault Second Degree.
Chief William E. Benny