Published: February 11, 2009 09:35 pm      

Police investigating Tuesday shootings

Detectives from the Huntsville Police Department and the Walker County Sheriff’s Office began an investigation Wednesday into two Feb. 10 shootings now believed to be related.

The first shooting occurred at the intersection of 12th Street and Sycamore Avenue in Huntsville shortly before 3:30 p.m.

According to Detective Slavin Richards of the HPD, a vehicle containing a man, a woman and a 4-year-old child was stopped on 12th Street at the intersection when a second vehicle, driven by a male, traveling North on Sycamore toward 11th Street, made an abrupt left turn on 12th Street and stopped alongside the first vehicle.

Both drivers rolled down their windows, and words were exchanged. Moments later, the driver of the second vehicle produced a pistol and fired twice in the direction of the first vehicle.

Both cars then sped off in opposite directions and occupants of the first vehicle called police. Huntsville police officers responded immediately to the scene and found that no one was injured and the car had not been struck by any bullets.

“We searched all around the scene, and we didn’t find any bullets,” Richards said. “We looked at light poles, trees, buildings, and we couldn’t find any.”

Richards was assigned to the case and immediately began searching for possible suspects.

Three hours later, at approximately 6:30 p.m. another shooting was reported, this one at a residence on Pine Breeze Street in the Galilee area in southwest Walker County.

According to Lt. Charles Perkins of the WCSO, an unidentified suspect pulled up to the residence in a vehicle and fired several rounds, hitting the home eight times and striking a nearby car once. No one was injured.

According to Richards, authorities now believe both shootings are connected.

“Apparently someone spotted a vehicle from the first shooting at this house, then drove up and started shooting,” Richards said.

Detective Chris Buck of the WCSO was assigned to the shooting on Pine Breeze. Detectives from both agencies continue to pursue possible leads in the case, but have not released the names of any suspects.

Anyone with information on either shooting is urged to contact Walker County Crime Stoppers at (936) 294-9494. All calls are confidential and any information leading to an arrest could be eligible for a reward.