DA says Alabama officers likely won’t be charged in fatal shooting
Published 6:55 am Friday, February 14, 2020
Charges weren’t expected to be filed against officers involved in the fatal shooting of a domestic violence suspect in northern Alabama earlier this week, according to a district attorney.
Thomas Ray Chamblee, 34, was shot and killed Monday just outside Albertville. He was identified at a news conference Thursday, news outlets reported.
Marshall County Sheriff Phil Sims said his deputies, along with officers from Albertville, Boaz and Douglas police searched for Chamblee after receiving a domestic-related call early Monday morning.
Chamblee had reportedly left the home in Boaz before deputies arrived at the scene.
Chamblee’s wife was found suffering from skull fractures, head lacerations, a broken arm and broken hand, Boaz Police Chief Josh Gaskin said. She was taken to a hospital for treatment but an update on her condition had not been released.
A short time later, police located Chamblee’s vehicle near a home just outside of Albertville. Officers “took their time talking to him,” Sims said, to try to get Chamblee to come outside.
“He came out of the residence holding a handgun,” Sims said. “As soon as he came out, he leveled a handgun at officers. And that’s when officers did what they had to do to protect themselves.”
The actions of the officers appeared “to be reasonable, necessary and appropriate,” said Everette Johnson, Marshall County District Attorney.
Chamblee was known to law enforcement and had several prior charges against him, including for domestic violence, news outlets reported.