In the quiet city of Decatur, Alabama, a wave of violence shattered the community in May of 2015, leaving two men dead, including Antonio Hernandez-Lopez. This series of brutal crimes was carried out by a group of teenagers, embarking on a three-day spree of robberies and shootings that would ultimately lead to murder.
The string of violent acts began on May 13, 2015, carried out by four young men: brothers Cedric and Joseph Cowan, along with Amani Goodwin and 16-year-old Cortez
Mitchell. Over the next two days, their crime spree would escalate, culminating in the senseless deaths of two innocent men. The motive behind their rampage was robbery, a pursuit of quick gain that ended in irreversible tragedy.
On May 15, 2015, Anselmo Antonio Hernandez-Lopez, a Hispanic male, became a victim of this teenage crime wave. While details of his encounter with the four assailants remain part of the larger narrative of their violent spree, his life was tragically cut short. The following day, the crime spree claimed its second victim, Joshua Davis, who was found deceased at Wilson Morgan Park. The community was left reeling from the sudden and random nature of the violence.
The investigation into the murders quickly led law enforcement to the four young men. A significant breakthrough in the case came when Cortez Mitchell turned himself in to the police. His confession and subsequent cooperation helped investigators piece together the events of the deadly crime spree and solidify the case against his accomplices.
The legal process that followed brought a measure of justice for the families of Antonio Hernandez-Lopez and Joshua Davis. In February 2018, Cortez Mitchell, despite his young age at the time of the crime, was convicted of felony murder and robbery. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison. Amani Goodwin, facing similar charges, chose to accept a plea deal. In exchange for his testimony against the others, he pleaded guilty to felony murder and robbery and also received a life sentence.
The Cowan brothers, who were also central figures in the crime spree, faced the full force of the law. Joseph Cowan was convicted for his role in the murders and is currently serving a life sentence. In November 2019, his younger brother, Cedric Cowan, was also found guilty on three counts of capital murder. For his part in the heinous crimes, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, ensuring that all four individuals responsible for the deaths of Antonio Hernandez-Lopez and Joshua Davis would be held accountable for their actions.
