Second gunman still sought in 2008 slaying

One year after authorities say two men shot and killed Christopher Woods during a burglary at his Dothan home, one of the two suspected gunmen remains at large.

Dothan police detectives charged two men with capital murder in the Nov. 13, 2008, slaying of Woods. Police arrested Tawuan Justin Townes, 19, the day after the murder. He remains held without bond at the Houston County Jail. Police also filed a capital murder warrant against Cornellious Benton, 24, but have not been able to find him.

“We are doing as much as possible to find this person,” said Thomas Davis, the Dothan Police Department’s public information officer. “He took a life and he’s still at large. Who knows, it could happen again, so we want to get him off the street.”

According to court records, Townes was charged with using a .22-caliber rifle to shoot Woods in the chest. Woods, 28, also suffered a second gunshot wound to the hip. Woods’ assailants robbed him of some money during the burglary at his home in the 1000 block of Blackshear Street.

Benton pleaded guilty to felony possession of cocaine in 2004, and resisting arrest in 2007. According to court records, he was arrested in 2002 and charged with first-degree robbery, but it was later dismissed.

Capt. Steve Parrish, the criminal investigation division supervisor, said Benton should be considered armed and dangerous.

Davis said police have also listed a picture of Benton as one of the city’s most wanted on several flat screen televisions in a couple waiting room areas at the Dothan Police Department. Police encouraged anyone with information about Benton to call the police.

“Hopefully, if we can get some information from the public we can catch him,” Davis said.