In the quiet afternoon of January 17, 2021, the life of 20-year-old Willis Rambo, Jr. was tragically cut short in Dothan, Alabama. At approximately 4:00 pm, police responded to a call of a firearm assault in the 900 block of Morris Street. Upon arrival, they discovered the young man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Paramedics and officers attempted life-saving measures, but their efforts were in vain, and Willis was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation into the city's
first homicide of the year led authorities to review video footage and interview witnesses. Their efforts soon identified persons of interest, leading them to Montgomery, Alabama, where they located a suspect. Christian De-Andre McCallister, who was 19 at the time, was taken into custody on unrelated warrants and transported back to Dothan for questioning. Following an interview with investigators, McCallister was arrested and charged with the murder of Willis Rambo, Jr.
As the legal process unfolded, it was revealed that the shooting was a case of mistaken identity. Investigators believed that McCallister and another man, Kadarius Salter, had intended to shoot someone else. In 2022, Christian McCallister pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter and began serving a 15-year prison sentence. Kadarius Salter, who was also facing a murder charge, was found guilty of manslaughter by a jury. He was subsequently sentenced to 20 years in state prison for his role in the death of Willis Rambo, Jr.
