2 police officers shot in northwest Alabama; suspected gunman injured

MUSCLE SHOALS, Ala. — Two police officers were shot and a suspected gunman was wounded after a shooting in northwestern Alabama on Friday, authorities said.

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According to Colbert County Sheriff Frank Williamson, the shooting occurred at about 3 p.m. CDT in Muscle Shoals, WHNT reported.

Update 11:13 a.m. EDT Oct. 2: Sheffield Police Chief Ricky Terry identified one officer as Sgt. Nick Risner, a K-9 officer, WHNT reported. Risner had surgery Friday and remains in critical condition, the television station reported.

One officer, Lt. Max Dotson, was hit in his vest, Terry told WHNT.

Muscle Shoals Police Chief Clint Reck said the alleged gunman, Brian Lansing Martin, 41, of Sheffield, was also hit during the shooting and was taken to an area hospital, WHNT reported.

Martin pleaded guilty to manslaughter in 2013 for the May 11, 2011, shooting death of his father, Donice Scott, in Tuscumbia, AL.com reported. Martin was sentenced to 10 years in prison but was released in May 2016 after serving about three years in prison, the website reported.

Original report: Muscle Shoals Police confirmed all their officers “are fine” in a Facebook post.

The wounded officers were from the Muscle Shoals Police Department and the Sheffield Police Department, Williamson said at a news conference.

One of the officers was wearing a bulletproof vest and was not injured. The other officer was airlifted to Huntsville Hospital, according to WAFF.

Williamson said the incident began as a chase and ended in a shootout, WAAY reported.

“We’re still trying to put the pieces together,” Williamson told AL.com via telephone.

Williamson said the incident developed after the discovery of a body on Avalon Avenue in Muscle Shoals. A short police chase followed, which ended behind the old Southgate Mall in an exchange of gunfire.

Authorities have not released any information about the body that was found, AL.com reported.

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