A Lee County deputy is recovering after being shot while investigators attempted to serve a felony warrant in the Loachapoka area Wednesday evening. The suspect was killed during the exchange of gunfire, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident happened around 5:34 p.m. central time on Lee Road 188. Authorities say deputies and investigators were serving a warrant for first-degree rape when they were immediately met with gunfire after attempting to enter the residence. Deputies returned fire, fatally injuring the adult hispanic male suspect.
One deputy was struck in the upper arm. Officials said the deputy was in stable condition and was flown to UAB Hospital for treatment.
Sheriff Jay Jones said the investigation began earlier in the day after an adult female reported to a school resource officer at Lochapoka High School that she had been held against her will and sexually assaulted multiple times over the past several days. Investigators say they gathered enough evidence to establish probable cause and obtain the warrant before going to the home.
Authorities also confirmed a 3-year-old child was inside the residence at the time of the shooting. The child was not injured.
During the emergency response, a Lee County deputy and an Auburn police officer were involved in a crash on Shug Jordan Parkway, while responding to the scene. Both were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and are expected to be okay.
Multiple agencies responded to the scene, including the Auburn Police Department, Lee County Emergency Management Agency, EAMC EMS, and Lee County Coroner Daniel Sexton, along with other supporting resources.
Because the shooting involved law enforcement, the Alabama State Bureau of Investigation, under ALEA, has been called in to investigate the exchange of gunfire.
Sheriff Jones asked the community to keep the injured deputy and his family in their thoughts and prayers.
No names have been released at this time. CNAW2News.com will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.
