On the afternoon of October 17, 2020, 35-year-old Lamar Dontaye Whittaker of Phenix City stopped at the intersection of 10th Avenue South and 4th Place South to help a stranded motorist. While he was assisting the vehicle, gunfire erupted and Whittaker was struck; investigators say he was not the intended target and was an innocent bystander. He was found next to the car he had stopped to help.

Whittaker left behind a young son and was remembered by his community for a kind heart and involvement in local sports. The Phenix City Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division continues to seek information, and Central Alabama CrimeStoppers has posted a $5,000 reward for tips that lead to an arrest. No arrest has been announced.

If anyone was in the area on October 17, 2020, or has information about the shooting, please contact investigators.