Alabama man gets 198 years in prison for double deadly shooting
Cullman County Circuit Judge Emily Johnston on Wednesday sentenced Tyler Dwight Dooley to 99 years each for the deaths of Levi Lawrence and Dalton Bannister, with the sentences to run consecutively.
Ethan Parker 
A 32-year-old Alabama man has been handed a massive 198-year prison sentence following a deadly 2020 shooting that claimed the lives of two men.
Sentencing and Conviction
On Wednesday, Cullman County Circuit Judge Emily Johnston sentenced Tyler Dwight Dooley to two consecutive 99-year terms for the deaths of Levi Lawrence and Dalton Bannister. The sentencing marks the conclusion of a legal battle that followed Dooley’s May conviction on two counts of felony murder.
District Attorney Champ Crocker did not mince words regarding the defendant's behavior throughout the proceedings. "Tyler Dooley did everything to avoid accountability," Crocker stated. "He ran from the law after this crime happened. He escaped from the Cullman County Jail while awaiting trial. And during the trial, he laughed and smirked like this was all some kind of joke."
Crocker added, "Justice was done with these guilty verdicts last month, and again today at sentencing. I appreciate the family members who sat through this trial and who spoke at the sentencing hearing. They are carrying a burden no one should have to bear, but I hope this result eases their pain."
Context of the Crime
The roots of the case trace back to a deadly incident on August 15, 2020, within the New Canaan community. According to Sheriff Gentry, the shooting occurred during a small gathering on County Road 1854 when Dooley and Bannister attempted to rob Lawrence.
Lawrence, realizing the nature of those he was around, attempted to leave the residence. As he tried to exit, he was confronted by an armed Bannister. This triggered an exchange of gunfire in which Lawrence ultimately lost his life while defending himself. Dooley fled the scene following the shootout, leaving Bannister and Samantha Robertson behind.
Legal Status of Co-Defendants
Dooley, who was previously one of four inmates who escaped the Cullman County Jail in 2021, remains one of three individuals charged in connection with the double homicide.
Jacob Drane, 27, pleaded guilty in February to two counts of manslaughter and received a 15-year sentence for each. The third co-defendant, 25-year-old Samantha Robertson, is still awaiting trial.
