An Opelika man is facing a murder charge after a deadly shooting in Salem.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office began investigating after they received a call about. a person being deceased in the 500 block of Lee Road 126, on September 4, 2025, at approximately 7:14 pm CDT.

Lee County Deputies arrived on the scene and located 69-year-old James Barnett of the same address in Salem, sitting in a chair in the front yard with what appeared to be a single gunshot wound to the forehead.

“Lee County Investigators were able to obtain evidence leading to the arrest of the victim’s stepson,” authorities said. 51-year-old Richard Lee Huguley, of Opelika, was arrested and charged with murder. Huguley is being held in the Lee County Detention Center without bail, awaiting an Aniah’s Law hearing.

The victim’s body will be sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences for a postmortem examination. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Lee County Sheriff’s Office at 334-749-5651 or Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP (7867).