A gunman accused of killing an Alabama police officer and wounding two others near Auburn University has been apprehended and charged with capital murder.
Authorities had been searching for several hours for Grady Wilkes, who was seen wearing camouflage body armor and a helmet, before he was captured early Monday.
Wilkes, 29, opened fire on police late Sunday night after they responded to a domestic disturbance at a mobile home park in Auburn, taking the life of Officer William Buechner.
Officers Webb Sistrunk and Evan Elliott were wounded.
Auburn Police Chief Paul Register told reporters that there is no indication a 911 call from the location was fake.
“This seems to be a citizen who was in need, needing assistance from police,” Register said, according to the Auburn Plainsman. “And police responded, did their job, and went to that person’s aid.”
A woman from Coffee County asked a judge in November for a court order protecting her from Wilkes. He had sexually assaulted the woman while she was incapacitated and she feared he would harm her after learning she was pressing charges, she said in a court document. She is married to another man.
Buechner died at a nearby hospital. Both other officers are expected to recover.
“This is so tragic and so useless. I’m just heartbroken,” Gov. Kay Ivey said Monday.
“This is probably the worst day of my time here,” Register said. “Words cannot express the loss for this family, our family and this community.”
With News Wire Services
