Corey Dewayne Dawson, 31, was shot and killed on May 23, 2011, in Birmingham, Alabama, in an incident investigators later tied to both homicide and robbery. What first looked like a vehicle crash—a Mercury Sable into a tree near Goldwire Street and 1st Street Southwest—became a murder inquiry when officers found Dawson inside with a gunshot wound to the abdomen. He was transported to the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital and pronounced dead soon after arrival.

Witnesses told police Dawson and a friend were sitting in the car talking with a man standing outside the driver’s door when the man produced a firearm and shot Dawson. The friend fled, was pursued, robbed, and the shooter then left the scene. Witnesses described the suspect as slender, with dreadlocks or plaits just below the ears, wearing a red-and-white plaid button-up shirt with a large red stripe along the bottom and dark, baggy pants. Crime Stoppers offered a possible cash reward and authorities asked the public for tips; at the time of that appeal no suspect had been publicly identified or arrested.

If anyone knew Dawson, witnessed the shooting, or recognizes the clothing and description given, please share what you know with investigators.