On July 9, 2026, Houston County District Judge Bart Boothe officially swore me in as Court Appointed Special Advocate Executive Director. I express gratitude to Judge Boothe for entrusting me to work with Houston County’s families.
United States Attorney Thomas Govan proudly congratulates Special Agent Senior Pate Nelson, recipient of the 2025 State Officer of the Year Award, and Supervisory Special Agent Richard M. Holston, recipient of the 2025 Task Force Officer of the Year Award, both with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.
These awards recognize law enforcement professionals whose exceptional service, unwavering dedication, and commitment to justice have made a significant impact on federal investigations and strengthened the partnerships that protect the citizens of the Middle District of Alabama.
Special Agent Nelson and Supervisory Special Agent Holston exemplify the highest standards of professionalism and public service. Their tireless efforts have advanced complex federal investigations, enhanced public safety, and reinforced the strong partnerships that are essential to our mission.
Congratulations to both recipients on these well-deserved honors, and thank you for your continued service to the people of the Middle District of Alabama.
Pictured below from left to right: Alabama Secretary of Law Enforcement Hal Taylor, Special Agent Senior Pate Nelson, Supervisory Special Agent Richard Holston, and U.S. Attorney Thomas Govan.
Pate Nelson is a product of Geneva County. His dad is ALEA Captain Tracy Nelson, retired, Granddad was a Retired Captain with Alabama Department of Public Safety – Doug Nelson, and his Great Grandaddy was Skeeter Pate, a retired Captain of the Alabama Department of Public Safety – State Bureau of Investgation. His uncle is Sgt. Terry Nelson, former Criminal Investgator for Dothan Police and now was promoted to Sgt. of Patrol Division for Dothan Police Department.
Pate got his law enforcement begining, beside in his DNA, with Houston County Sheriff Department.
Congratulations to all, especially to Pate Nelson.
(DOTHAN, Ala.) On Saturday, July 4, 2026, at approximately 2:30 a.m., officers with the Dothan Police Department and personnel from Dothan Fire and Rescue responded to a report of a shooting in the 800 block of Hutchins Street.
Upon arrival, officers located an adult male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to the upper torso. The victim was transported to a local hospital, where he remained in critical condition.
The victim has been identified as Ja’Marion Rashawn Snell, 18, of Dothan. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, Snell succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. Following his death, the investigation is being conducted as a homicide.
This investigation remains active and ongoing. Detectives continue to actively pursue all investigative leads, conduct interviews, and analyze evidence to identify those responsible. The Dothan Police Department remains committed to bringing those responsible to justice and providing answers to Mr. Snell’s family.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Dothan Police Department at (334) 615-3000 or provide information anonymously through CrimeStoppers at (334) 215-STOP.
The Dothan Police Department extends its deepest condolences to the Snell family and all those affected by this tragic loss. Violent crime affects not only victims and their loved ones, but the entire community. We remain committed to aggressively investigating these crimes, holding violent offenders accountable, and working every day to make Dothan a safer place to live, work, and visit.
🛍️ Madrid Senior Center Rummage Sale is Almost Here! 🛍️
Come
treasure hunting and support a great cause!
✨ Browse furniture, home décor, kitchen items, clothing, tools, collectibles, holiday decorations, books, and so much more. Every purchase helps support programs and activities for the seniors in our community.
📅 Friday, July 10 & Saturday, July 11
🕖 7:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Madrid Senior Center
760 Decatur Road
Madrid, AL 36320
❤️ Donations are still welcome!
Bring your family, invite your friends, and come discover amazing bargains while making a difference in the lives of our local seniors.
This radio and old rifle have sat on a shelf in my office for 12 years, not as a trophy but as a reminder of God’s grace and protection. On July 8, 2014 , after a two day manhunt, a child rapist was finally cornered in a hayfield by a pack of determined beagles who refused to give up. Instead of surrendering, he opened fire on multiple deputies who were within feet of him. One bullet, fired by this rifle, struck the radio I was wearing that day. I look at it every day I come in to my office as a reminder of why I do this. Little did he know but he lit a fire in me that day that will never burn out and that is we must stand up for the ones who can’t protect themselves…our children. We have made it a priority and won’t back down. I’m so proud of the men and women of the Dale County Sheriff’s Office who lay in on the line each day.
Recently, Frank Compton saw the rifle in my office and and asked about it. I told him the story and he made me made this to properly display it in my office. I want to thank Frank and his wife, Tabitha Compton for the display and all they do for our community
Gun Violence, Recent Investigations, and Public Safety
-Chief Will Benny
Any discussion about reducing gun violence is a conversation worth having. The Dothan Police Department welcomes partnerships with elected officials, community leaders, prosecutors, local law enforcement agencies, our federal law enforcement partners, and citizens because violent crime cannot be solved by any one agency working alone.
If the discussion is about creating a collaborative effort to address gun violence, it is important for the public to know that the Dothan Police Department has been operating under that model for several years.
The Department has built a comprehensive strategy that combines local policing with state and federal partnerships to identify violent offenders, investigate firearm crimes, and prevent violence before it occurs. Rather than simply responding to crime after the fact, we have invested heavily in intelligence-led policing, proactive enforcement, ballistic technology, and community engagement.
The results are encouraging.
Since 2023, gun-related crimes, including shots-fired calls and firearm assaults, have declined approximately 22 percent year to date. Firearm homicides have also declined significantly during that same period, and our overall homicide numbers have fallen well below the levels experienced just a few years ago.
Just as importantly, every recent homicide in Dothan has been solved and the investigation into the one over the weekend is progressing rapidly. While every homicide is one too many, our investigators have consistently identified and arrested those responsible, demonstrating our commitment to accountability and justice for victims and their families.
These results are not accidental. They reflect years of investment by the City of Dothan and the dedicated work of our police officers, investigators, analysts, dispatchers, prosecutors, and our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners.
The Department operates an in-house National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) laboratory, allowing ballistic evidence to be processed quickly and linked across multiple crime scenes. We have investigators assigned full-time to DEA, ATF, FBI Safe Streets, and HIDTA task forces, providing expanded intelligence, federal authority, specialized resources, and seamless coordination with our law enforcement partners.
Our Patrol Division has significantly expanded proactive enforcement through intelligence-led saturation details and proactive sector patrols. During only two recent saturation operations, officers made 69 arrests, recovered multiple illegally possessed firearms, executed search warrants, disrupted narcotics trafficking, and removed violent offenders from our community. Our proactive sector patrol initiative has continued those efforts through directed patrols based on crime analysis, citizen complaints, and current intelligence, resulting in additional arrests, stolen firearm recoveries, illegal weapon seizures, and narcotics enforcement.
Investigators have also intensified enforcement against prohibited firearm possessors. Since January, the Vice and Intelligence Division has reviewed every applicable firearm case to determine whether suspects were legally allowed to possess firearms, resulting in numerous felony prosecutions under Alabama’s Certain Persons Forbidden statute.
Everything we do is guided by intelligence-led policing, using crime analysis, offender intelligence, technology, and community information to deploy resources where they will have the greatest impact on reducing violent crime.
Equally important is our commitment to the community. Our officers are engaged every day through neighborhood patrols, schools, youth outreach, community meetings, downtown initiatives, mental health partnerships, and problem-oriented policing. Strong relationships with the community remain one of the most effective tools available to prevent violence before it occurs.
We recognize that criminal justice policies influence public safety outcomes. Historical data show that violent crime increased during the period when the City operated under mandatory signature bond requirements. Following the return to a surety bond system, combined with expanded proactive policing, intelligence-led enforcement, federal task force participation, NIBIN technology, and focused prosecution of violent offenders, gun violence has declined. While many factors influence crime trends, these developments occurred during the same period.
We also understand why many citizens feel that gun violence is increasing despite the data showing otherwise. Today’s information environment is dramatically different than it was just a few years ago. A single shooting can appear on social media within minutes, be shared repeatedly across multiple platforms, generate hundreds of comments, and remain in public discussion for days. As a result, one tragic incident may be encountered dozens of times, creating the understandable perception that violent crime is occurring more frequently than it actually is.
Every act of violence is significant, and every victim matters. We never dismiss the fear or concern that follows these incidents. However, public perception is naturally shaped by individual events, while law enforcement must evaluate long-term trends using objective data. When we examine those data over time, the numbers show that gun-related crime in Dothan is moving in the right direction.
At the same time, it is important to recognize that no police department can prevent every act of violence. When a private dispute suddenly escalates and someone chooses to use a firearm, there is often little or no opportunity for law enforcement to intervene before the crime occurs. While we cannot predict or prevent every spontaneous act of violence, we can identify and target repeat violent offenders, remove illegally possessed firearms from our streets, aggressively investigate firearm crimes, solve homicides, and work every day to reduce the conditions that contribute to violence.
Public safety is never the result of a single initiative or one organization working alone. It is achieved through consistent enforcement, effective investigations, engaged communities, strong prosecution, modern technology, regional partnerships, and accountability throughout the criminal justice system.
The Dothan Police Department remains committed to using every available resource to reduce gun violence, hold violent offenders accountable, and protect our community. We welcome every opportunity to strengthen partnerships and continue building upon strategies that are producing measurable results.
While no law enforcement agency can promise that violence will never occur, the people of Dothan can be confident that this Department will continue working relentlessly to prevent violence wherever possible, respond immediately when it does occur, and hold those responsible fully accountable. The measurable decline in gun violence, our record of solving recent homicides, and our continued investment in proactive policing demonstrate that these strategies are making our community safer, and we remain committed to building on that progress every day.
Investigative Update
The Dothan Police Department continues to aggressively investigate the recent series of violent incidents that occurred over the Fourth of July weekend. Investigators have made significant progress in each case. While these investigations remain active, investigators have identified individuals believed to have participated in multiple incidents, are executing search warrants, conducting interviews, analyzing evidence, and coordinating with prosecutors. The investigations continue to progress, and investigators anticipate additional criminal charges as evidence continues to be developed.
Wiregrass Commons Mall Shooting (July 3, 2026)
Investigators have identified individuals believed to have participated in the shooting and have developed significant investigative leads through witness statements, physical evidence, forensic analysis, and other investigative techniques. Search warrants are being executed, additional interviews are underway, and the investigation continues to move forward.
Hutchins Street Shooting (July 4, 2026)
The investigation into the Hutchins Street shooting has advanced significantly.
Investigators have identified multiple suspects and persons of investigative interest and have conducted numerous witness interviews. Search warrants have been executed for residences, electronic devices, social media accounts, and other evidence. Detectives continue to analyze forensic evidence and follow up on information developed during the investigation.
Additional investigative work remains before charges can be filed against all responsible parties, but the investigation continues to progress. The victim remains in critical condition.
Biltmore Apartments Shooting (July 5, 2026)
This investigation has resulted in the arrest of Brandon Grubbs, who has been charged with:
• First-Degree Assault
• Shooting into an Occupied Dwelling
• Shooting into an Unoccupied Vehicle
Additional charges remain possible depending upon the victim’s medical condition.
Investigators have also determined that another individual involved will face a pending Menacing charge following medical treatment. This investigation is substantially complete.
Hutchins Street Family Disturbance (July 6, 2026)
Investigators determined this incident stemmed from a family argument related to the earlier Hutchins Street shooting investigation.
A 16-year-old juvenile has been charged with Second-Degree Assault after a firearm discharged during a struggle, injuring both the juvenile and another individual.
As your Chief of Police, I want the people of Dothan to know this: what occurred over the Fourth of July weekend is unacceptable. It is not normal, and it will not be tolerated in our city.
If you choose to commit violent crime in Dothan, understand this: time is not your ally. You may evade arrest for a day, a week, or even longer, but our investigators will continue working these cases until we identify you, arrest you, and present the evidence necessary to hold you accountable. We do not quit, and we do not forget. We will continue working these investigations until every person responsible is identified and brought before the courts.
Our investigators are working around the clock executing search warrants, conducting interviews, analyzing forensic and digital evidence, processing ballistic evidence, and following every credible lead. We are working closely with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to ensure every available investigative resource is brought to bear in these cases.
I also ask our community to continue partnering with us. Information from witnesses, residents, and those who know what happened is often the difference between suspicion and proof. If you know something, please come forward. Even what may seem like a small piece of information could be the key to solving a case and preventing the next act of violence.
The overwhelming majority of Dothan’s citizens are hardworking, law-abiding people who simply want safe neighborhoods where they can raise their families, attend school, operate businesses, worship, and enjoy community events. They deserve nothing less.
To those citizens, you have my commitment that this Department will continue using every lawful tool, every investigative technique, and every law enforcement partnership available to reduce violent crime, hold offenders accountable, and protect this community.
We cannot promise that violence will never occur. No police department can. What we can promise is that every act of violence will be met with an immediate, professional, and relentless response. We will pursue every credible lead, build every case thoroughly, and work tirelessly until those responsible are brought to justice.
That is my commitment to this community, and it is a commitment this Department will keep.
