In the summer of 2022, a visit home to Daphne, Alabama turned tragic for Sawaida RoShaun Arnold, a 34-year-old man who was fatally shot in what police have described as a targeted attack. Arnold, who had been living out of state, was in the Daphmont neighborhood visiting family on the afternoon of Wednesday, July 27, 2022, when the incident occurred.
He was discovered in his car in a driveway, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
Investigators quickly determined that the shooting was not a random act of violence. Described as the city's first murder in nearly seven years, the case drew significant attention. Police appealed to the public for assistance, asking for any information about Arnold's activities in the hours leading up to his death. They were particularly interested in the movements of his Dodge Challenger, hoping that surveillance footage from local businesses might reveal if he had been followed or had any confrontations. A search of the nearby woods was conducted with K-9 units, which picked up a scent, but the suspect, described as a man dressed in all black with a face covering, initially eluded capture.
As the investigation progressed, authorities began to piece together the events that led to Arnold's death. It is believed that the motive for the killing was robbery, as Arnold was known to be carrying a significant amount of cash in a fanny pack, which was missing when he was found. The case saw a significant breakthrough in December of that year when three suspects were taken into custody.
Cortez Gonzalez and David Sampey were the first to be arrested in connection with the murder. Shortly after, the third suspect, Franklin Crandall, turned himself in to the Daphne Police Department. All three men faced serious charges, including murder. Crandall was additionally charged with tampering with evidence, in what authorities characterized as an ambush-style killing. The arrests brought a measure of resolution to a community shaken by the violent crime.
