By Jeff Devine, The Chronicle
DOTHAN, Ala. — One adult and two juveniles have been arrested following a Thursday afternoon shooting in Dothan that police say stemmed from an attempted robbery during a planned drug purchase.
According to the Dothan Police Department, officers responded shortly before 5 p.m. Sept. 10 to the 600 block of Moates Street after receiving reports of a male suffering from a gunshot wound.
Officers located the victim attempting to drive himself to a local hospital. Police provided medical aid at the scene until the victim could be transported for treatment.
At the hospital, medical personnel determined the victim had suffered two gunshot wounds to the back. He was treated and released later the same day, according to police.
As investigators worked to determine what led to the shooting, they learned the victim had gone to the area to meet an individual for the purpose of purchasing drugs, police said.
According to investigators, the victim realized after arriving that he was allegedly being set up to be robbed. As he attempted to flee the area, two individuals allegedly fired handguns in his direction, striking him twice in the back.
Investigators subsequently developed leads that identified 20-year-old Zy’Keria Akeelha Andrews of Dothan as the person police allege arranged the robbery.
Andrews was arrested and charged with one count of first-degree robbery. She was booked into the Houston County Jail and was being held on a $90,000 bond, according to police.
Two juveniles, ages 16 and 17, were also arrested in connection with the shooting. Police said both juveniles have been charged as adults with one count each of first-degree robbery, first-degree assault and shooting into an occupied vehicle.
The juveniles were booked into the Houston County Jail and are being held without bond, according to the Dothan Police Department.
Because of juvenile privacy laws in Alabama, police said no additional information about the two juveniles is available.
The investigation remains ongoing, and police said additional charges are possible.
Anyone charged with a crime is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
