IMTHDUKE
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GOODWATER -- When a man tried to hit a city court judge with a crutch in the small Coosa County city of Goodwater on Thursday, the judge pulled a gun. When the man tried to take the gun away from the judge, a police officer shot him, an Alabama state trooper said.
The man, identified by family, friends and witnesses as Brian Ford, was being treated at UAB Hospital on Thursday for one or more gunshot wounds. He was listed in good condition on Thursday night, according to a hospital spokeswoman.
Goodwater is off U.S. 280 about 75 miles southeast of downtown Birmingham.
A Department of Public Safety press release stated that a preliminary investigation of the shooting at Goodwater City Hall indicated that about 9:39 a.m., a defendant attacked the Municipal Court judge and attempted to forcibly obtain a firearm when he was shot by a Goodwater police officer who was providing courtroom security.
State Trooper Chad Joiner told The Birmingham News later in the day that the man was attacking the judge with one of his crutches. "When he tried to attack the judge, the judge pulled out a firearm to defend himself. As he (the defendant) was trying to pull the gun from the judge, that's when the police officer shot him," Joiner said.
Authorities did not release the names of the judge, officer or defendant.
The Alabama Bureau of Investigation was asked to investigate the incident. The ABI's final report will be turned over to the Coosa County district attorney, Joiner said.
The man, identified by family, friends and witnesses as Brian Ford, was being treated at UAB Hospital on Thursday for one or more gunshot wounds. He was listed in good condition on Thursday night, according to a hospital spokeswoman.
Goodwater is off U.S. 280 about 75 miles southeast of downtown Birmingham.
A Department of Public Safety press release stated that a preliminary investigation of the shooting at Goodwater City Hall indicated that about 9:39 a.m., a defendant attacked the Municipal Court judge and attempted to forcibly obtain a firearm when he was shot by a Goodwater police officer who was providing courtroom security.
State Trooper Chad Joiner told The Birmingham News later in the day that the man was attacking the judge with one of his crutches. "When he tried to attack the judge, the judge pulled out a firearm to defend himself. As he (the defendant) was trying to pull the gun from the judge, that's when the police officer shot him," Joiner said.
Authorities did not release the names of the judge, officer or defendant.
The Alabama Bureau of Investigation was asked to investigate the incident. The ABI's final report will be turned over to the Coosa County district attorney, Joiner said.