DOTHAN, Ala.— Dothan police worked around the clock investigating two separate shootings that occurred in the Circle City during the weekend.
The department is still looking for both suspects from one shooting that happened on Dutch Street near downtown Dothan and another from a road rage incident.
According to Lt. Scott Owens, a firearm assault happened on the 500 block of Dutch Street late Saturday night. The victim was shot multiple times. When first responders arrived, the victim was taken to Southeast Health.
Owens tells WDHN News that they are stable but in critical condition.
Police said the other shooting started during a road rage incident, leading the victim to be found shot at Ridgecrest Baptist Church.
Owens said despite these two shootings, crime in the area is down due to programs like “Operation Clean Sweep.”
“We need the public’s help in order to solve crimes that may happen or crimes that are about to be committed,” Owens said. “Without the public’s help, we do not solve nearly the crime that we do. That is a large credit to the community that we serve that they are behind us.”
Currently, officers are reviewing security footage in the area and following any leads that will help them identify the suspects in both shootings.
Owens said events like this weekend’s shootings are tragic he said it’s the police department’s job to to piece together what happened but they can always use the public’s help.
“The more that the people who are out there conducting criminal activity fear that they will be
Caught, arrested, and convicted is ultimately the best deterrent for crime,” Owens said.
Owens said that programs like “Operation Clean Sweep” help the department target guns and cut down on gun violence. He added that the department can do its part, but nobody knows the neighborhood better than the ones who work, live, and play there.
He said if residents have any information about crimes they should not feel scared to speak up.
“The people who are committing these crimes, if they know the public will not protect them, and they will give information to the police, it is going to be a very strong deterrent for the crime that happens in your community,” Owens said.
Dothan police are still currently investigating both shootings, if you have any information they ask you to call the department.
