In the midst of the festive atmosphere of the National Peanut Festival Parade in Dothan, Alabama, a dispute turned deadly, claiming the life of 22-year-old Garyoun Tyrone Fluellen on Saturday, November 12, 2022. The tragic incident unfolded near the intersection of West Main Street and Montana Street as a physical altercation among a group of individuals escalated into gunfire.
During the fight, at least one person produced a firearm and fired into the crowd, striking two people.
Fluellen suffered a single gunshot wound to his upper torso. He was quickly transported to Southeast Health, but tragically, he was pronounced deceased at the hospital. A second victim sustained two gunshot wounds to the upper torso and was also taken to Southeast Health, where he underwent surgery and was reported to be in stable condition.
In the immediate aftermath, the Dothan Police Department launched an investigation, identifying two persons of interest: 18-year-old Mekhi Nasir Lawton and 18-year-old Mark Quinten Small Jr. Law enforcement officials emphasized that the shooting was not directly connected to the parade itself but was rather the result of a senseless act of violence between spectators.
The investigation quickly led to a breakthrough with the help of the community. Mekhi Nasir Lawton was identified as the shooter, and warrants were issued for his arrest on charges of one count of murder and one count of first-degree assault. In a significant development, Lawton turned himself in to the authorities just before midnight on the night of the shooting. His bond was subsequently set at $1.5 million.
