By STEVEN CALHOUN/Staff Writer

The Chilton County Sheriff’s Office released additional information about the March 25 officer-involved shooting during a press conference at the Chilton County Courthouse on March 29.

Sheriff John Shearon gave the update. The Sheriff’s Office declined to field questions during the conference. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s State Bureau of Investigation is still investigating the incident.

According to Shearon, deputies responded to a call reporting an intoxicated person at the rest stop on Interstate 65 south near mile marker 213.

Deputies made contact with the lone male occupant of the vehicle matching the description from the call. They attempted to conduct a field interview with the suspect, but he was noncompliant and refused to show his hands, according to Shearon.

The 69-year-old man produced a semi-automatic handgun “in a matter of seconds” and fired at deputies from the driver’s window of his car, Shearon said.

The deputies returned fire, striking the suspect. Deputies removed him from the vehicle and secured him. They began administering first aid to the suspect until medical services arrived to take the suspect to UAB Hospital for treatment.

Both deputies were equipped with body cameras that were on and recording throughout the event. The deputies and witnesses have been interviewed, and have complied with the SBI’s investigation, according to Shearon.

The evidence that has been gathered so far has made the Sheriff’s Office “confident that [the deputies’] actions are appropriate based on the situations that they were presented with.”

“We cannot speculate or discuss any possible criminal charges against the suspect at this time,” Shearon said.

Once gathered, all facts and evidence will be presented to the District Attorney’s Office.