UPDATE:
After responding to the firearm assault during the early morning hours, investigators and officers began working multiple leads. Information learned led investigators to Dale County. Members of the Dothan Patrol Division and the Criminal Investigation Division worked hand in hand all day long and into the night with Sheriff Mason Bynum and the Dale County Sheriff’s Department. Together the two departments located persons of interest, witnesses, and executed search warrants.
As a result of the lengthy investigation, at approximately 7:15 PM on Saturday January 10, 2026, Dothan Police Department Investigators had gathered sufficient evidence to sign a warrant for Murder on 40 year old Ted Carstiel Caldwell of Ozark, Alabama. At approximately 8:30 PM, Sheriff Bynum and members of the Dale County Sheriff’s Department located Caldwell at a residence in Ozark and took him into custody. Caldwell was transported to Dothan where he was booked into the Houston County Jail for the Murder charge with no bond.
Details learned indicate the victim, Brandon Layfatte Jones, and another individual were engaged in a verbal altercation that turned physical over a minor parking lot dispute. During their dispute, Caldwell interjected himself by producing a firearm and shooting Jones, who according to witnesses was unarmed. As a result, Jones succumbed to the injury.
Caldwell is no stranger to the criminal justice system. Records show he has past arrests for Assault, Minor in Possession of Alcohol, Unlawful Distribution of a Controlled Substance, Contempt of Court for Failure to Appear in court on more than one occasion, Failure to Pay Child Support, and even a previous arrest for Murder. All arrests were in jurisdictions outside of Houston County. Even though these were arrests, the disposition and sentencing for each of these are unknown.
The Dothan Police Department would like to extend their gratitude to Sheriff Bynum and members of the Dale County Sheriff’s Department for all their hard work and dedication to helping bring such a senseless crime to a successful conclusion. This is a great example of two departments working together as one team, for one cause.
Original:
On Saturday, January 10, 2026, at approximately 4:00 AM, the City of Dothan-Houston County Emergency Operations Center received a call for a firearm assault in the parking lot of a local establishment in the 3600 block of Montgomery Highway.
Officers arrived on scene and located a male victim lying in the parking lot with one gunshot wound to the upper torso. Dothan Fire and Rescue arrived on scene and began life saving measures on the victim. Pilcher’s Ambulance transported the victim to a local hospital, trauma alert.
Shortly after arrival at the hospital, the victim succumbed to his injury. The victim has been identified as 35 year old Brandon Layfatte Jones of Dothan.
At this time, a person of interest has been identified and is being sought.
A motive for the incident has not been determined as of yet due to the investigation being in its early stage.
We ask anyone with information related to the incident to contact the Dothan Police Department at 334-615-3000 or CrimeStoppers at 334-215-STOP.
