On the evening of October 17, 2015, Clayton “Slim” B. Woodward, Jr., a 32-year-old male, was shot and killed in what authorities described as a targeted act of violence in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. Woodward was inside his minivan, parked in front of his residence on Nichols Avenue in Valley Township, when the fatal shooting occurred. Alongside him in the vehicle was 27-year-old Terrance Craig-White, who also lost his life in the attack.
A third individual in the backseat of the minivan was fortunate to escape the incident without any physical injuries. Both Woodward and Craig-White were pronounced dead at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds.
The investigation into the double homicide spanned several years, with Chester County detectives meticulously piecing together the events of that night. Their efforts eventually led them to a suspect, Alan Carter, who was 24 years old at the time of his arrest in May 2018. Law enforcement officials alleged that Carter had been motivated by a belief that Woodward had stolen cocaine and money from his home. It was reported that Carter believed Woodward had been armed during the alleged theft and had tied up and threatened his family.
According to the authorities, Carter sought revenge for the alleged robbery. He is said to have waited for Woodward, Craig-White, and the third passenger to be parked in Woodward's minivan. Carter then allegedly drove up to the vehicle in an SUV and opened fire with a. 40 caliber semi-automatic handgun. A crucial piece of evidence in the investigation was the discovery of the Nissan Rogue SUV, believed to have been used by Carter, abandoned in Southwest Philadelphia. In addition to the physical evidence, investigators spoke with multiple witnesses to whom Carter had allegedly admitted to or bragged about committing the shooting. Following his arrest, Alan Carter was charged with first-degree murder and other related offenses and was sent to Chester County Prison.
