Christopher Dotson was 34 when he was shot and killed on June 27, 2016, at a residence on Center Street on San Antonio’s East Side. Investigators initially thought the killing might have been drug-related and pursued leads that included a suspect, Xavier DeShawn Johnson, whose cell phone records placed him near the scene.

Johnson was tried in 2018, but prosecutors’ case relied on circumstantial evidence and the jury acquitted him. The San Antonio Police Department conducted an extensive investigation, offered a reward, and Crime Stoppers and family members appealed for tips, yet solid leads remained limited. The case underscores how reliance on witness accounts and digital traces can make connecting a suspect to a violent crime difficult.

If anyone knew Christopher, was at the Center Street residence that night, or has information that wasn’t previously shared with investigators, please come forward.