Corrected: Arrest Made in Weekend Traffic Accident

On March 11, 2023, at approximately 10:55 pm, the Dothan Police Department responded to a motor vehicle accident with critical injuries in the 2500 block of Ross Clark Circle. The accident was involving a 2018 Hyundai Sonata.  The driver, 30-year-old Derik Levi Blessing, and passenger, 42-year-old Audrey Kay Jenkins were both pronounced deceased at the scene.  Both victims resided in Dothan.

Also involved in the accident was a 2021 Dodge Charger driven by 42-year-old Leon Aubrey Jones Jr.  After an investigation by the Dothan Police Department Crash Team, It was determined that Mr. Jones was traveling at excessive speeds and under the influence of alcohol.  He was also determined to be the reason for the crash.  Due to these contributing factors Leon Aubrey Jones Jr. has been charged with two counts of manslaughter.  He has bonds totaling 60,000.00.

The Dothan Police Department would like to extend our thoughts and prayers to the Blessing and Jenkins families.

William E. Benny
Chief of Police

Correction: An earlier version of this post incorrectly indicated that Jones was charged with criminally negligent homicide.

Suspect Identified in Recent Murder

On Wednesday, February 22, 2023, at approximately 12:15 AM, the Dothan Police Department responded to a murder in the 700 block of Monroe Street. The victim was identified as Shamel Roscel Hagler, 25 years old of Dothan. Investigators have now identified the suspect they believe to be responsible for this murder as 34 year-old Justin Cordelro Britt of Dothan. Britt is currently wanted for one count of Murder.

The whereabouts of Britt are unknown at this time, but we are asking the public for assistance in locating him. We ask if you know the whereabouts of Britt to please call the Dothan Police Department at 615-3000. If you would like to remain anonymous, you can call Crime Stoppers at 334-793-7000. The Dothan Police Department will stringently guard and protect the identity of anyone who would like to help in an anonymous capacity.

Justin Cordelro Britt – WANTED – one count of Murder

Dothan Man Murdered

On Wednesday, February 22, 2023, at approximately 12:15 AM, the Dothan Police Department received a 911 call about a firearm assault that had occurred in the 700 block of Monroe Street. Officers arrived on scene and found the victim in the edge of a yard. The victim had sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the upper torso. Dothan Fire and Rescue arrived and attempted life saving measures but were unsuccessful. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

The victim has been identified as Shamel Roscel Hagler, 25 years old of Dothan. We are in the preliminary stage of the investigation and no further information is known at this time.

Investigators have learned that multiple people were present at the time of the shooting. We would like to ask anyone who has any information related to this incident to please call the Dothan Police Department at 334-615-3000. If you would like to remain anonymous, you can call Crime Stoppers at 334-793-7000. The Dothan Police Department will stringently guard and protect the identity of anyone who would like to help in an anonymous capacity.

 

Dothan Woman Charged with November Murder

The Dothan Police Department has been investigating a murder that occurred on November 9, 2022, in which Samuel Jeffery Gray was shot and killed.  Earlier, the Dothan Police Department arrested Kevone Devontay Smith for his involvement in this incident.

On Thursday, February 9, 2023, the Dothan Police Department, with the assistance of Headland Police Department, located another person of interest in this case, Mia Aliyah Creech. Not only was Creech a person of interest for this incident, but she also had outstanding warrants for Shooting into an Occupied Dwelling and Criminal Mischief First Degree which occurred in September of 2022.

As a result of the ongoing November 2022 Murder investigation, 24 year-old Mia Aliyah Creech of Dothan, has now been charged with one count of Murder.  Her total bond for all charges was set at $190,000.00. At this time, no additional arrests are expected in this case.

We would like to thank the Headland Police Department for their assistance in locating and apprehending Creech.

Mia Aliyah Creech – Murder, Shooting into Occupied Dwelling, and Criminal Mischief First Degree

Shooting Leads to Murder Arrest

On Monday, January 2, 2023, at 3:10 AM Dothan Police Officers and Dothan Fire and Rescue were dispatched to a possible suicide at Highland Hills Apartment Complex on South Brannon Stand Road. Officers and Paramedics arrived and began life saving measures on the victim. The victim, 48 year-old Richard Brandon Littlefield, sustained one gunshot wound to the upper torso. The only other person present at the time of the incident, 31 year-old Justin Tyler Marchozzi, is the one who called 911.

After gathering evidence at the crime scene, and gathering information from neighboring witnesses, Marchozzi was charged with one count of Murder with a $1.5 Million Bond, and one count of Certain Persons Forbidden to Possess Pistol with a $15,000.00 Bond. No motive for this incident has been determined at this time. The investigation of this case continues; however, no further arrests are expected at this time.

Justin Tyler Marchozzi – one count of Murder and one count of Certain Persons Forbidden to Possess Pistol

Firearm assault leaves one dead

On Thursday, December 15, 2022, at approximately 6:58 P.M., officers responded to the 1300 block of Alexander Drive to the report of a firearm assault in which one person had been shot. When officers arrived on scene, they confirmed there was in fact one victim that had already been transported to Southeast Health by a personal vehicle. Officers arrived at the hospital and discovered the victim suffered from a single gunshot to the upper torso. The victim was in critical condition and was immediately taken to surgery where he succumbed to his injury. The victim has been identified as 21-year-old Alfonso Morrissette, of Dothan.

On the night prior, Wednesday, December 14, 2022, at approximately 6:15 P.M., two suspects shot at Morrisette at the same location, but he was not hit. Various residences and vehicles were hit during this incident. It has now been determined 20-year-old Zyshawn Codaun Coker and 19-year-old Keith Shukar Helms, both from Dothan, are the two suspects responsible for shooting at Morrissette on Wednesday night.

Zyshawn Coker has been charged with three counts of Shooting into an Occupied Building, one count of Shooting into an Unoccupied Building, one count of Shooting into an Unoccupied Vehicle and one count of Attempted Murder. These charges are in reference to the incident that occurred Wednesday night.

When located, Helms will be charged with the same charges in reference to the incident that occurred Wednesday night.

Thursday night’s incident in which Morrissette died, is still under investigation. The Dothan Police Department asks that anyone who has information related to the death of Morrissette to please call the Dothan Police Department at 334-615-3000. If you would like to provide information in an anonymous capacity, you can call Crime Stoppers at 334-793-7000. The Dothan Police Department will stringently guard and protect the identities of all those who wish to help in an anonymous capacity.

Dothan Man Murdered on Alexander Drive

On Thursday, December 15, 2022, at approximately 6:58 P.M., officers responded to the 1300 block of Alexander Drive to the report of a firearm assault in which one person had been shot. When officers arrived on scene, they confirmed there was in fact one victim that had already been transported to Southeast Health by a personal vehicle. Officers arrived at the hospital and discovered the victim suffered from a single gunshot to the upper torso. The victim was in critical condition and was immediately taken to surgery where he succumbed to his injury. The victim has been identified as 21-year-old Alfonso Morrissette, of Dothan.

No further information is known at this time. We are in the preliminary stage of the investigation, and we will provide more information as it becomes available.

Update: Suspect Identified in Miles Lane Murder

Update:  Kevone Devontay Smith turned himself in to the Dothan Police Department.  He has now officially been charged with one count of Capital Murder and two counts of Intimidating a Witness.  He has no bond at this time.

 

On Wednesday, November 9, 2022, the Dothan Communication Center received a report of an individual shot in the 800 block of Miles Lane. Dothan Fire and Rescue along with Dothan Police Officers arrived on scene and found the victim lying in the middle of the roadway. Paramedics attempted life saving measures but determined the individual was deceased. The victim, 35-year-old, Samuel Jeffrey Gray, of Dothan, had suffered a gunshot wound to the upper torso.

This has been an ongoing investigation since that time. After much time and effort, we have identified a suspect involved in this incident. Kevone Devontay Smith, 21 years old of Dothan, currently has one outstanding warrant for Capital Murder, and two outstanding warrants for Intimidating a Witness. He is being sought by the Dothan Police Department. Anyone who knows the whereabouts of Smith is asked to call the Dothan Police Department at 334-615-3000. If you would like to remain anonymous, you can call Crime Stoppers at 334-793-7000. The Dothan Police Department will stringently guard and protect the identities of all those who wish to help in an anonymous capacity.

WANTED:  Kevone Devontay Smith – Capital Murder & Two Counts of Intimidating a Witness

UPDATE: Suspect in Double Murder Now in Custody

Update:  Vincent Lamar Oliver Jr. has been taken into custody and has ben charged as a juvenile with two counts of Capital Murder. He will be held in the Southeast Alabama Diversion Center. Due to the restriction of a court order, no further information will be released regarding him.

 

On Sunday, November 20, 2022, at approximately 8:04 p.m., the Dothan Police Department responded to the 200 block of Fifth Avenue for a report of two people being shot. It was confirmed two female victims were deceased from gunshot wounds.

The victims have been identified as 21-year-old Jasmine Danielle Bean, and 20-year-old Ja’Lexius Lashon Wells, both of Dothan.

During the investigation we have developed a suspect who is a juvenile. Due to Alabama juvenile privacy laws, we are typically not allowed to release juvenile information. However, the courts have issued an order allowing the suspect’s information to be released to the public due to the interest of public safety.

The suspect is identified as Vincent Lamar Oliver Jr., 14 years old of Dothan. Oliver Jr. is wanted for two counts of Capital Murder related to the shooting last night.

Oliver also has active juvenile pickup orders for two counts of Attempted Assault First Degree and one count of Discharging a Firearm into an Occupied Vehicle which occurred in July 2022. Oliver Jr. has been sought by authorities since that time. Per the court order, no further information related to Oliver can be released.

Anyone who has information related to the whereabouts of Oliver Jr. is asked to please call the Dothan Police Department at 334-615-3000. If you would like to remain anonymous you can call Crime Stoppers at 334-793-7000. The Dothan Police Department will stringently guard and protect the identities of all those who wish to help in an anonymous capacity.

Two Shot Dead Inside A Residence

On Sunday, November 20, 2022, at approximately 8:04 p.m., the Dothan Police Department responded to the 200 block of Fifth Avenue for a report of two people being shot. When officers arrived on scene, they confirmed that information to be true.

Dothan Fire and Rescue arrived on scene and confirmed two female victims were deceased from gunshot wounds. Neither of the females lived there but were visiting. It is believed there was a gathering of several people at this location when this took place. Other than the victims, no one else was present when officers arrived.

The victims have been identified as 21-year-old Jasmine Danielle Bean, and 20-year-old Ja’Lexius Lashon Wells, both of Dothan.

We are in the preliminary stage of the investigation and no further information is available currently. We will release more information as it becomes available.

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