Second suspect charged in murders of two people in Montgomery

A second suspect has now been arrested in the shooting deaths of two men who were killed in Montgomery in July.

Court records show that 19-year-old Cordericus Thomas of Montgomery has been charged with murder and capital murder.

As Action 8 News has reported, the shootings happened on Saturday, July 12. Just before 4PM that day, police were called to a shooting in the 400 block of North California Street. That’s where they found the body of 27-year-old Malik Benson.

While on the scene, police were told that another person had been shot in the 1700 block of Upper Wetumpka Road, which was nearby. Officers found 26-year-old Dekeith Whatley in a car with several gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

Court records show that video collected at the scene showed Benson and Whatley in a shootout with several people in a white car. The people in the car were also seen chasing and shooting from the car at Benson as he ran toward North California Street.

Thomas is being held in the Montgomery County Detention Facility.

Dontrez Taylor – Photo from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office

Thomas is the second suspect charged in the case. As Action 8 News has reported, 22-year-old Dontrez Taylor was arrested on July 18. He is also being held in the Montgomery County Detention Facility on murder and capital murder charges.