On Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at approximately 1:53 p.m., officers with the Clarksdale Police Department responded to the 100 block of West Second Street in reference to a report of two individuals being shot.
Upon arrival, officers made contact with James Bryant, age 46, and his brother Derrick Bryant, age 45. Both individuals had sustained a single gunshot wound. Emergency medical personnel with Pafford EMS responded to the scene. James Bryant was transported to Northwest Regional Medical Center for treatment, while Derrick Bryant was airlifted to Regional One Medical Center in Memphis, Tennessee.
During the course of the investigation, a suspect was developed and identified as Dakota Dotson, age 37. Investigators with the Clarksdale Police Department obtained two warrants for Aggravated Assault. With assistance from the Coahoma County Sheriff’s Department, Dotson was arrested, and charged with two counts of Aggravated Assault.
Although Oakhurst Intermediate School is located near the area where the shooting occurred, there was no shooting at the school. Out of an abundance of caution, school staff placed the campus on lockdown, which was the correct safety procedure under the circumstances..
This case remains under investigation by the Clarksdale Police Department.
